Jan. 6, 2021 By Allie Griffin
Several Queens lawmakers took to Twitter this afternoon to denounce the pro-Trump rioters who stormed the nation’s Capitol in what many are calling an attempted coup.
The president’s supporters pushed past law enforcement on the steps of the Capitol building, broke into the building and took over the Senate chamber and member offices.
The mob smashed windows and stole artwork and podiums from the Capitol building. One person was shot dead, according to news reports and footage posted to Twitter.
The extremists stormed the Capitol in support of President Donald Trump’s unsubstantiated claims that the election was fraudulent. The break-in forced lawmakers to halt the certification process of the Electoral College votes that will confirm Joe Biden’s victory. Members of Congress were evacuated or told to shelter in place.
Many Queens electeds put the blame for the mayhem at the feet of Trump, who held a rally prior to the riot.
Congresswoman Grace Meng, who was in hiding during the siege, said Trump is fully responsible for rioters.
“He told them to come to the Capitol,” she wrote on Twitter. “He invited violence and put our colleagues, staff, Capitol police in harm’s way. There is no greater interrupter of peace and democracy than him.”
Peaceful? How dare he? He told them to come to the Capitol. He invited violence and put our colleagues, staff, Capitol police in harm’s way. There is no greater interrupter of peace and democracy than him. pic.twitter.com/x8h4zNZaXd
— Grace Meng (@Grace4NY) January 6, 2021
Meng also said that she “was terrified for her life” and even said goodbyes to family members.
Rep. Gregory Meeks, who was sheltering in D.C., said he is safe, but “utterly devastated” by today’s riot.
“The world is watching as the greatest democracy braces against an attempted coup, stirred by its leader who’d rather watch the country burn than transition power,” he tweeted. “Our ability to advocate for democracy around the world will be significantly hurt after this tragic day in America.”
Rep. Carolyn Maloney — whose district spans Astoria and Long Island City, as well as the east side of Manhattan and Greenpoint, Brooklyn — posted a video to Twitter in which she called the riot “extremely disturbing.”
She said she and her staff are safe and sheltering in place in D.C.
My staff and I are safe and sheltering in place.
I am proud of America, to be a Member of the House of Representatives, but I am not proud of this. pic.twitter.com/JR7Spxidq2
— Carolyn B. Maloney (@RepMaloney) January 6, 2021
Meanwhile, Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez tweeted “I’m okay” and “Impeach.”
Back in Queens, State Sen. Jessica Ramos said the president must be arrested.
“Donald Trump must be arrested and impeached,” Ramos tweeted. She called the attack on the Capitol “a coup attempt.”
Queens’ sole Republican council member also denounced the violence at the Capitol.
“The chaos that is currently underway at our nation’s Capitol is an embarrassment,” Council Member Eric Ulrich, a Republican, tweeted. “People have a right to protest but this is pure anarchy. No American, Democrat or Republican, should ever condone violence.”
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards simply wrote “domestic terrorism” in a tweet.
Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, who may be eyeing a run for Queens borough president position, also took to Twitter.
“All of the Republicans who shamelessly went along with this coup which drove this violence must be held accountable,” he wrote. “They are a disgrace to this country.”
Police arrested at least 13 people and seized five guns during the violent protest, the New York Times reported. Law enforcement were able to secure the Capitol building by 6 p.m., according to the Times.
34 Comments
Should’ve been titled “When Karen’s attack”
There is evidence money from Trumps campaign was used to fly and facilitate travel of rioters into Washington DC for this event.
The money came from George Soros.
@Queens lady – We know Trump doesn’t have any money, he owes it to Russian Oligarchs, Deutsche Bank and Stormy Daniels. George Soros is a successful businessman unlike Trump AKA: Mr. Bankruptcy, he bankrupt three casinos, The Plaza Hotel, An Airline, four magazines, a university and so on.
Now there is evidence that foreign Bitcoin money funded some of the rioters.
Trump can’t even defend the Capitol. How is he supposed to defend the country?!
Trump defended the country for four years, we had no terrorist attacks.
Trump never defended this country, he’s a draft dodger. October 31, 2017- Sayfullo Havivulkaevich drove a truck into cyclists in Lower Manhattan killing 8.
@stop the lies, President Trump protected us by not getting involved in another long war. Bush and Obama did nothing to protect us.
Fact Check– until now, when he terrorized America and continues to do so by lying about the election. So, 1 terror attack where 5 Americans died.
THIS WAS ALL ANTIFA’S DOING NOT TRUMP SUPPORTERS READ UP ON IT – BUT WHEN BLM’S WERE RIOTING AND BREAKING WINDOWS AND ROBBING AND SETTING BUILDINGS ON FIRE – NOT ONE QUEENS COUNSEL PERSON EVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT THAT –
Anonymous- Of course Queens politicians spoke out against rioters and looters. So your saying that the Trump inspired root would be ok if Queens law makers hadn’t spoken out against somebody else’s law breaking.
You are delusional. The videos speak for themselves. These are Trump supporters and the rioters are bragging about their lawless criminal behavior.
Antifa doesn’t usually carry around Trump flags and wear MAGA hats. I don’t know if you’ve noticed that…
Sorry Anonymous, but as of Sunday night (1/10), the Associated Press reported than the 120 arrested so far are mostly Trump supporters, not Antifa. The people included Republican Party officials, GOP political donors, far-right militants, white supremacists and those who believe in QAnon.
Check the videos and read their statements. Ignore Rudy, You’ve been deceived.
Anonymous– you are in a cult. Save yourself! Also: Q is not a real person.
This was a failed insurrection and a disgrace to our nation. Trump invited the rioters to town, egged them on, and refused to call in the National Guard when the Capitol was breached and trashed.
He cannot accept his defeat and can no longer defend and protect the Nation. He should immediately be removed from office tonight by the 25th Amendment.
of course they would and NOT a peep about black criminal lives matter and the destruction they caused.
Rikki – Why would we need to speak about BLM when we’re talking about a specific event and a specific criminal offense that doesn’t involve BLM? Do you normally over look a crime because another crime happened months ago and miles away?
No? Then kinda different huh? Whoops!
Did they denounce the summer long riots and looting from BLM and antifa…nope. What happened in DC was wrong but the hypocrisy and double standards are laughable. It’s a mess and they’ve contributed to it more then anyone.
Lol- No Antifa members did any looting or were charged with looting. Fox News said 93% of the BLM protests were peaceful. Other news outlets put it at 98% peaceful. Google it.
..and the politicians politicized it, just like your doing. That’s why people flock to trump because they’re sick of manipulative sophists that push their agendas using double talk and taking advantage of tragedy at every turn. As for those 98% that didn’t physically participate they created and encouraged the environment for the 2% to destroy and terrorize a population that was in the middle of a pandemic. Them along with the politicians shrugged it off when it matched their agenda and if it wasn’t blatantly obvious before it sure is now.
Trump told Bob Woodward in February (on tape and confirmed by Trump) “The virus is in the air Bob”. “It’s killing the young too.” In March Trump spoke at CPAC danced with the flag and called the virus a hoax. Trump told his followers to resist the safety precautions put in place to slow the virus. Trump caused the virus surge. Trump doesn’t care about anybody but himself not even his gullible followers, he told you to resist safety measures. He had three out of shape followers storm the hill and drop dead of heart attacks. He never even acknowledged the murdered Capitol Police officer. Trump views his followers as disposable. He doesn’t love you but he does think you’re “special”
I bet the guy who keeps thumbing up pro Trump comments thousands of times on this website was one of the rioters.
Nah. He’s just a keyboard warrior. He’s too fragile to physically do anything.
These are the very same tactics Putin has deployed in elections around the world. This confirms Trump works for Putin.,
Trump should be charged with treason!!
Hey Jessica maybe you should learn about the constitution. He can’t be arrested and it’s too late to be impeached. And impeached doesn’t mean removed from office.
Nope, not too late to Impeach again. If Pence can’t get a majority of the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment, then the House will bring Articles of Impeachment. To do nothing about Trump’s obviously treasonous acts is unacceptable. The guy is unhinged, unstable and unfit for office.
Says unhinged “Gardens Watcher”. Your paranoia is not becoming; you need more therapy.
Unhinged- You were stupid enough to hitch your wagon to a narcissistic self serving megalomaniac who told people to ignore health measures during a pandemic causing tens of millions to become sick and over 400,000 and counting dead. A man who told rioters to storm the Capitol (“I’m going with you”) then the next day denounced and turned on them. Now they will be prosecuted with a law Trump signed to protect confederate monuments.
Not paranoid pal. Just following the facts. The more that comes out about this plot, the more insidious it gets.
No need for all caps.
Now that Trump has been impeached AGAIN, as I posted a week ago, you wanna drop the screaming all caps?