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A police officer at the Capitol was seen appearing to take a selfie with a protester after the U.S. Capitol was evacuated. Earlier, members of Congress were told to wear gas masks as they were evacuated, and President Donald Trump tweeted and asked supporters to act peacefully.
A Capitol Police Officer Posed for a Selfie with a Protester
The moment was captured on a live stream video from within the U.S. Capitol, showing a man dressed in a yellow vest that read “POLICE” posing for a selfie photo. A Capitol Police officer can be seen posing for a selfie with a protester inside the Capitol. Neither man has been identified, but the man in the police vest appeared to be in uniform and wearing a patch that said Capitol Police.
Cops are taking selfies with the terrorists. pic.twitter.com/EjkQ83h1p2
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) January 6, 2021
Here’s a screenshot of that moment.
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One person on Twitter referred to the selfie moment as being “white privilege.”
White privilege is…
Being part of the Mob while taking a selfie with the Cops. pic.twitter.com/SvCbT710zA— Peanut Gallery (@HeathenOpinions) January 6, 2021
Others had a different take, saying the cop was trying to de-escalate the situation by allowing the selfie.
To be fair, you could see a cop doing the right thing to de-escalate by saying "all right, you can take your selfie now get the hell out"
— Tom Guida (@TomGuida) January 6, 2021
The full live stream from inside the Capitol is still ongoing and can be watched below. It was shared by a YouTube account called PaulyFrog.
Trump supporters successfully breached the U.S. Capitol after a Stop the Steal rally in Washington D.C. that Trump spoke at. While at the rally, Trump had encouraged them to march on to the Capitol, but later asked them to act peacefully after videos emerged of protesters fighting with federal police. You can see one of the videos below.
BREAKING: Trump supporters have breached the Capitol building, tearing down 4 layers of security fencing and are attempting to occupy the building — fighting federal police who are overrun
This is the craziest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. Thousands, police can’t stop them pic.twitter.com/VVdTUwV5YN
— ELIJAH SCHAFFER (@ElijahSchaffer) January 6, 2021
This is another angle showing some supporters clashing with police.
Trump supporters are trying to break past police lines at the Capitol building.pic.twitter.com/kzLo2vWyfq
— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) January 6, 2021
News also circulated earlier that some Capitol police officers had been injured and had to be evacuated.
Now multiple officers injured. pic.twitter.com/yRDc9AEHNg
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) January 6, 2021
President Donald Trump took to Twitter to ask supporters not to fight the federal police. He wrote: “Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country. Stay peaceful!”
Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country. Stay peaceful!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2021
Ivanka Trump tweeted a similar sentiment, calling the protesters American Patriots but asking them to stop. She wrote: “American Patriots – any breach or disrespect to our law enforcement is unacceptable. The violence must stop immediately. Please be peaceful.”
She later deleted the tweet, Business Insider reported, and said that only peaceful protests are patriotic.
No. Peaceful protest is patriotic. Violence is unacceptable and must be condemned in the strongest terms. https://t.co/GwngZTqzTH
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) January 6, 2021
Trump Released a Video on Twitter Asking Protesters to Go Home
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2021
Trump released a video on Twitter in the late afternoon asking protesters to go home. He still claimed the election was stolen in the video and claimed the opposition knew it too. But then he encouraged protesters to go home.
“But you have to go home now,” he said. “We have to have peace. We have to have law and order. We have to respect our great people in law and order. We don’t want anybody hurt. It’s a very tough period of time. There’s never been a time like this.”
He repeated more claims about the election and then said, “Go home. We love you. … I know how you feel, but go home and go home in peace.”
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