2020–21 United States election protests
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Protests began in multiple cities in the United States following the 2020 United States presidential election between then-President Donald Trump and Democratic Party challenger Vice President Joe Biden, held on November 3, 2020. Biden won the election, receiving 81.3 million votes (51.3%) to Trump's 74.2 million (46.9%)[15][16] and winning the Electoral College by 306 to 232.[17][16][15] Biden's victory became clear on November 7, after the ballots (including mail-in ballots) had been tabulated.[18] The Electoral College voted on December 14, in accordance with law, formalizing Biden's victory.[17]
| 2020–21 United States election protests | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Pro-Trump march to protest the election results in Washington, D.C., on November 14, 2020 | |
| Date | November 4, 2020 – April 11, 2021 (5 months and 1 week) |
| Caused by | Claims of electoral fraud made by Donald Trump[1][2][3][4] |
| Goals | Overturn 2020 presidential election results[5] |
| Methods | |
| Resulted in |
|
| Casualties | |
| Arrested | 1,000+[12][13][14] |
Before and after the election, Trump, his presidential campaign, and his allies challenged the legitimacy of the election and falsely claimed widespread electoral fraud.[19] Trump and his allies filed dozens of legal challenges to the results, which were rejected by at least 86 judges from across the political spectrum, in both the state and federal courts, including by federal judges appointed by Trump himself. The courts found that his claims had no factual or legal basis.[20][21] His unsubstantiated allegations of widespread voting fraud were also refuted by state election officials.[22]
Pro-Trump protesters, including groups such as the Proud Boys, engaged in multiple demonstrations in Washington, D.C., state capitols, and other locations nationwide protesting the election results and echoing Trump's claims of election fraud.[5] In November and December 2020, there were nighttime clashes and street scuffles in Washington, D.C. between Trump supporters who refused to accept the president's defeat, including the Proud Boys, and counterprotesters.[5][23][24]
On January 6—the day when Congress formally counts the electoral votes—Trump supporters gathered for the "Save America" rally where attendees heard speeches from President Trump and his personal lawyer, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani. Before the speeches were over, a mob of protesters marched on Congress and stormed the Capitol building.[25] Congress was in session at the time, certifying the Electoral College vote count. Several buildings in the U.S. Capitol complex were evacuated, and protesters broke past security to enter the U.S. Capitol building, including National Statuary Hall.[26][27] All buildings in the Capitol complex were subsequently locked down.[28] There was reportedly an armed standoff at the doors to the House chambers,[29][30] one person was shot within the Capitol building, and one Capitol Police officer died after having a stroke the next day.[31][32] At least two improvised explosive devices were found.[33][34]
In the aftermath of the storming of the U.S. Capitol, at least 36 House Democrats called for Trump's immediate impeachment and removal by Congress.[35][36] State-level officials including Maryland Lieutenant Governor Boyd Rutherford supported impeachment,[37] and representatives called on Vice President Mike Pence to remove Trump via the Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution.[38][39] Trump continued to face backlash in the days following and, due to his use of social media to encourage his supporters' protests and violence, was eventually restricted or banned from most online platforms including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and his preferred Twitter.[40][41]
Armed supporters of Trump have continued protesting in the aftermath of the storming of the US Capitol.[42] In the lead-up to the inauguration ceremony for President Biden, thousands of National Guard troops were dispatched to the capital, with up to 25,000 present on inauguration day.[43]
In remarks from the White House in the early hours of November 4, President Donald Trump alleged, without presenting evidence, that "fraud" was being committed during vote counting efforts[44] and remarked, "We will win this. As far as I'm concerned, we already have won."[45] Some major networks conducted live fact-checking and interrupted the president's speech while others offered uninterrupted coverage.[46] Former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon suggested that Trump begin his second term of office by ordering the executions of Dr. Anthony Fauci and FBI Director Christopher A. Wray as "a warning to federal bureaucrats".[47][48]
Political observers had suggested the possibility of a contested election and premature claim of victory by Trump in the months before of the election. This expectation was based on the likelihood that initial votes counted on election night would skew heavily Republican while mail-in ballots would skew heavily Democratic, a blue shift that became more favorable to Biden as more votes were counted and could be misrepresented as fraudulent.[49]
Pro-Trump events related to the election outcome have taken place around the country beginning on November 4.
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"We're gonna walk down to the Capitol, and we're going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women, and we're probably not going to be cheering so loudly for some of them, because you're never going to take back our country with weakness; you have to show strength...I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard."
— Donald Trump, Speech at a D.C. rally shortly before the storming, January 6, 2021
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On January 6, the protesters planned to march to the United States Capitol.[95] President Donald Trump supported the planned protest via tweets.[96][97] Mayor Bowser asked residents not participating in the protests to "avoid confrontations with anybody who's looking for a fight".[98][99]
A crowd of several thousand first listened to a speech by Trump, in which he repeated his claims that the election had been stolen and said, "We will never give up. We will never concede. ... Our country has had enough. We're not going to take it anymore." He urged them to march on the Capitol to "peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard" but also to "show strength".[100]
Many listeners then marched on the Capitol, where they breached the barricades, broke windows, and stormed inside the Capitol building. They marched through Statuary Hall.[101] Rioters invaded the offices of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, flipping tables and ripping photos from walls; there was looting in the Capitol.[102][103]
The Capitol was locked down, the Senate and House recessed from their discussions about the electoral count, and Vice President Pence was "whisked away" from the chamber.[104][105] Members of Congress were told to put on gas masks after law enforcement began using tear gas within the building. ABC News reported shooting in the Capitol building and an armed standoff at the front door of the House chambers.[106][107] The New York Times also said police drew their guns inside the House of Representatives chamber.[108]
Multiple officers were injured in the mob violence at the Capitol.[109][110] One died the following day, and another committed suicide over the following weekend. A woman was shot inside the Capitol by a Capitol Police officer while climbing through a broken window into the Speaker's Lobby - she later died.[111] At least one improvised explosive device was found on Capitol grounds, and another just blocks away at the headquarters of the Republican Party.[33][34]
In the aftermath of the storming of the US Capitol, more than 250[36][112] members of Congress called for Trump's immediate impeachment and removal by Congress, or by invoking the Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution.[113][114][35] State-level officials who have described Trump's conduct as impeachable include Maryland Lieutenant Governor Boyd Rutherford.[37][38][39]
Congresswoman Cori Bush introduced a resolution to investigate and expel Republican House members who had supported challenging election results, asserting they had broken their oath of office.[115] As of 25 October 2021[update], the resolution was still waiting to be voted on.[116]
A number of states experienced demonstrations and armed protests at state capitols or in the streets on January 6, numbering in dozens to hundreds of participants. Precautionary measures, such as closures of state capitols and evacuation of members and staff, were taken in several of the states in response to the events in Washington D.C.[117][118] In some states the events were marked by incidents or particular security concerns.
Pro-Trump events were held without incident in Indiana,[132] Minnesota,[133] Nevada,[134] Nebraska,[135] Ohio,[136] Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.[137]
The FBI reported that protests were being planned for all U.S. state capitols (and Washington) likely January 16–20, the 17th being symbolic to QAnon and the 20th Inauguration Day.[139][140] Substantial security preparations were undertaken to protect the United States Capitol, state capitols, and other locations from potential threats, and the protests occurred only in about a dozen states, featuring a small number of participants.
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