The day started out like any other day, but it would soon take a turn for the worst. The president of the United States held one of his rallies on the DC National Mall in response to the electoral college votes being counted by Congress. This event is where he told his followers to march on the capitol and “cheer on” the senators. 

“I initially didn’t believe that it was even real and didn’t understand that they broke in until I saw clips on the news,” sophomore Maya Reichenbach said. “I was really angry and enraged because that extremist riot demonstrates that white supremacy is alive and well.”

At the conclusion of the rally on the Mall, thousands of its attendees began the march to the Capitol building with the intent to “stop the steal” of the election. A mob formed as the crowd broke through police barriers and pushed the measly police force back to the steps of the Capitol. 

Reichenbach went on to say, “[The most shocking part was] the way that force and violence weren’t being used towards the mob at the capitol. Also, the government and police force knew that people were planning to riot but didn’t see it as a threat.”

The mob chanted things like “Hang Mike Pence” after he refused to skew the electoral college votes in their favor. They violently pushed the police back to the entrance of the Capitol, where after a time they broke in.

After breaking into the Capitol, rioters stormed both the House and the Senate floors, broke into Senators and Congressmen and women’s private offices, and stole sensitive government information from the building. Many rioters such as the man photographed with his feet up on Speaker of the House Nancy Polosi’s desk have been charged with felonies and detained by the FBI. 

Carlisle senior Noah Brown spoke on his reaction to the attack saying “…this mob was the outcome of what happens when political extremists do not get their way… [their] actions were very irrational.” He went on to say he was “a little panicked..” when the news broke.

Five people in total died as a result of the day’s events; one police officer and four rioters. Three of the rioters died of causes unrelated to the riot itself, but one was shot by police.

According to Dartunorro Clark and Frank Thorp V, writers for NBC News, “Three other people died in “medical emergencies” after the riot, officials said. Capitol Police officials, however, have not released many details about the circumstances of these other deaths.”

The police officer, Brian D. Sicknick collapsed at Capitol Police Headquarters after clashing with the MAGA rioters. He died at the hospital later that evening. 

On January 13, 2021, the House of Representatives voted to impeach  Trump for the second time. According to The Guardian, “The House of Representatives has voted 232 to 197 to impeach…” He was impeached on the charge of inciting an insurrection, and the vote moved to the senate to vote for removal from office.

By Inauguration Day on Jan 20, when Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States, many people are releasing a sigh of relief, as the confusion of the past few months is finally being resolved. No matter one’s political views a bit of change seems to be what this nation needs.

Junior Isabelle Whitten discussed the swearing-in of a new government saying, “I’m ready for a lot of good change and I am hopeful for all Americans, no matter their background.”