Security has been significantly ramped up in the wake of Wednesday’s attack on the Capitol Building by rioting ers of President Donald Trump.
850 were be there by noon. The entirity of the grounds has been surrounded by a 7-foot fence.
McCarthy said that measures will be in effect for thirty days, to ensure peace through the inauguration Jan. 20.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Chief Robert Contee and McCarthy hosted an update on yesterdays’s events at the Capitol.
Bowser again called President Donald Trump to be held able for yesterday’s attempted insurrection. “What happened yesterday is what he wanted to happen,” she said, “and we must not underestimate the damage he can do to our democracy over the next two weeks.”
Bowser condemned the violence of the pro-Trump demonstrators during yesterday’s Captiol insurrection and said that it was in no way aligned with “the values that make the District of Columbia that make it a diverse and inclusive city.”
Chief Contee said 68 individuals were arrested overnight. 60 were men and 8 were women. 41 were arrested on Capitol grounds. Only 1 was from DC, Contee said.
Yesterday, In addition to last night’s 6:00 p.m. curfew, Bowser declared a 14-day state of emergency for the District of Columbia. She said this act was taken to ensure the safety of the public in the District.
“We may have to do some extraordinary things to maintain public safety,” Bowser said. “A curfew is one of (those) things.”
Bowser and Contee thanked the Capitol Police, MPD, multiple state police forces and the National Guard for their during yesterday’s events.
“Their heroic acts demonstrate what true patriotism is,” Bowser said. “We want to thank them for everything they do in keeping our city safe.”
Bowser referred to the mob as “domestic terrorists” and FBI MPD, encouraged Washingtonians texting 50411 to provide tips.
Bowser said the response to the mob at the Capitol was “obviously a failure” that would require a continuation of the ongoing investigation.
Sarah Payne is a History and Neuroscience student at The University of Michigan interning with HillRag. She writes for and serves as an assistant news editor for Michigan’s student newspaper, The Michigan Daily. You can reach her at [email protected].
