President-elect Joe Biden is urging protesters at the U.S. Capitol to leave as he is describing the storming of the building as an “insurrection.”
In a speech on Wednesday afternoon addressing the protesters, Biden said, “At this hour, our democracy is under an unprecedented assault. Unlike anything we’ve seen in modern times. An assault on the citadel of liberty — the Capitol itself. An assault on the people’s representatives.”
He continued, “Let me be very clear: The scenes of chaos at the Capitol do not reflect the true America. Do not represent who we are. What we are seeing is a small number of extremists dedicated to lawlessness. This is not dissent. It is disorder. It is chaos. It borders on sedition. And it must end. Now.”
“I call on this mob to pull back and allow the work of democracy to go forward. You’ve heard me say this in different contexts: the words of a President matter, no matter how good or bad that president is. At their best, the words of a president can inspire. At their worst, they can incite.”
Watch the video below:
President-elect Joe Biden: "In this hour, our democracy is under unprecedented assault… President Trump, step up." #Capitol pic.twitter.com/tZRJc7u0MQ
— The Hill (@thehill) January 6, 2021
Biden also called on President Donald Trump to deliver a televised address to call for an end of the demonstration. Shortly after Biden’s speech, Trump released a video on Twitter as he urged protesters to “go home.”
Biden condemned the actions of the people who stormed the building, “To storm the Capitol, to smash windows, to occupy offices… threatening the safety of duly elected officials is not protest. It’s insurrection.”
“The world is watching, and like so many other Americans, I am shocked and saddened that our nation, so long a beacon of light, hope, and democracy, has come to such a dark moment. Through war and strife, America has endured much. And we will endure here and prevail again” he said.
Finally, Biden said the scenes at the Capitol on Wednesday are a “a reminder, a painful one, that democracy is fragile.”
As lawmakers gathered to count the Electoral College votes, protesters breached barricades outside the Capitol and stormed the building, forcing the House and Senate to adjourn, as IJR reported.
Trump released a video message on Twitter as he urged protesters to “go home in peace.”
