Pro-Trump protestors turned violent as they stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. | Wikimedia Commons
Pro-Trump protestors turned violent as they stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. | Wikimedia Commons
Rep. Andy Levin (D-Bloomfield Township) called the storming of the nation's Capitol on Jan. 6 by supporters of President Donald Trump "a super sad day," according to Bridge Michigan.
Levin is no stranger to scenes like the one that unfolded in Washington, D.C. He saw it firsthand when he was overseas doing University of Michigan research in 1989 when members of the Chinese military attacked demonstrators who supported democracy.
"I did not expect as a member of Congress to have people try to violently interrupt the workings of our democracy," Levin told Bridge Michigan.
Rep. Andy Levin
| AndyLevin.house.gov
His remarks came after Trump supporters fought with police and postponed Congress' Electoral College vote that officially made former Vice President Joe Biden the next president of the United States. Levin called the events an "assault on democracy."
"The president of the United States has encouraged his supporters to overrun the U.S. Capitol to disrupt the counting of the Electoral College votes. We're not going to let it happen," Levin told Bridge Michigan.
Earlier Wednesday, Trump held a massive rally in Washington, D.C. and encouraged his supporters to "show strength" by demanding that Congress overturn the results of the general election in some states, such as Michigan. It wasn't until later that evening following a deadly shooting, other reports of gunshots and a citywide curfew that Trump recorded a video message asking his supporters to "go home." However, in that same video he again claimed the election was "stolen."
Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Watersmeet) and Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Tipton) were expected to object the election results, but the process was halted when chaos broke out.
Even newly elected Republican lawmakers believe enough is enough.
"Acknowledge Biden as President-Elect and end this madness," Rep. Peter Meijer (R-Grand Rapids) said in a tweet. "Violent rioters laid siege to the nation's Capitol in an act of insurrection unparalleled in modern times. This is not leadership."
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