Megan McCann ’23
On January 6, 2021, rioters stormed the Capitol building in Washington D.C. That same day, the certification of votes confirming Joe Biden as our 46th president was also taking place in the Capitol. Our nation’s Capitol represents much more than just a physical structure, “it stands as a monument to the ingenuity, determination and skill of the American people” (Architect of the Capitol). It represents the unity and liberty of the American people. According to the BBC, at 1:45 pm, the protesters surged past the Capitol police officers defending the steps of the building. Just minutes after the rioters entered the building, several senators and representatives were seen being evacuated from the Senate chamber, including former Vice President Mike Pence. The rioters breached the Senate chamber after the evacuation of all who were present for the certification of votes. These violent protesters illegally occupied, vandalized, and looted one of the most prominent buildings in the country. Officers like Eugene Goodman were among some of the Capitol police officers that did their best to protect the integrity of the building and the people inside. Goodman protected the Senate chamber doors from the rioters. About four hours after the rioters initially breached the capitol doors, President Trump called for the mob of protesters to stand back (BBC). Today, law enforcement still seeks to find and charge all protestors who contributed to the damage in order to properly bring our nation justice.