Vision emerges of police moving barricades to allow rioters into US Capitol, taking selfies
Fury has erupted over vision of police officers removing barricades to allow pro-Trump crowds into the Capitol and taking selfies with rioters.
Vision has emerged of police at the US Capitol appearing to remove barricades to allow pro-Trump protesters to gain access to the building, and another officer posing for a selfie.
Washington DC is in the grips of utter chaos after a large number of Donald Trump supporters descended on Capitol Hill to stage a fiery demonstration.
Media described law enforcement at the scene as having been “overwhelmed” as rioters stormed the building.
CNN reported that police at the Capitol building were caught off guard and didn’t expect people to breach a series of fences leading up to the building.
But questions are being raised on social media about how seriously some police officers took the incident, given vision that has emerged.
A clip posted on TikTok from the scene shows police removing barriers to allow the rioters to continue towards the Capitol steps.
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In addition, footage streamed live from inside appears to show police posing for selfies with members of the group.
National Guard troops have been deployed in a bid to restore order and Washington DC will be subjected to a 12-hour curfew tonight.
The FBI deployed SWAT-style officers to sweep the building in an attempt to remove pro-Trump rioters, who took control of the Senate floor as well as various offices of high-profile members.
But the slow response of authorities is already being criticised by politicians and commentators.
Joy speaking the truth. Thank you @JoyAnnReid pic.twitter.com/BpkgjL4Hq5
— Blair LM Kelley, PhD (@profblmkelley) January 6, 2021
MSNBC national correspondent Joy-Ann Reid was blistering in her analysis of the attack on the Capitol, saying it showed white Americans think they “own the place” and why they “aren’t afraid of the cops”.
“They know that they are not in jeopardy, because the cops are taking selfies with them, walking them down the steps to make sure they’re not hurt, taking care with their bodies, not like how they treated Freddie Gray’s body... white people are never afraid of the cops, even when they’re committing insurrection.”
She added if it were a Black Lives Matter protest “there would already be people shackled, arrested en masse, or dead”.
“They know the cops are cool with it,” Ms Reid added.
Four people have been confirmed dead.
It’s the not the first time police have been criticised for their actions at right-wing protests over recent years.
In Austin, police were forced to reiterate their stance on uniformed officers appearing in photos after a number appeared in a shot with a member of the Proud Boys group flashing a white supremacist symbol.
The Austin Police Department’s guidelines say officers aren’t allowed to be uniformed in photos that endorse or supports any political campaign or initiative or any social issue or cause.
It defended its department officers continuing to take photos with people when requested, saying “they do it to help foster relationships within our community”.
“If these officers were aware of the behaviour of those on the fringe of the group, there is no doubt in my mind that they would not have participated in the picture,” an APD statement read.
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Riot police walking amongst violent proud boys like queen's guard
— StanceGrounded (@_SJPeace_) November 15, 2020
no "Law and Order", no tear gas, no rubber bullets, NOTHING pic.twitter.com/2uA8VYuOPI
Proud Boys shaking hands with police. Warm fuzzies. pic.twitter.com/usyorAbSrE
— Zelda (@TheyWereStolen) November 15, 2020
The police have always been complicit with white supremacists. Proud boys in Portland PD. pic.twitter.com/28cmmbuXyi
— Don Salmon (@dijoni) August 31, 2020
The actions of the rioters today has been described by some watching it unfold as “insurrection” being committed by “domestic terrorists”.
US Vice President Mike Pence described it as an “attack” which “must stop now”.
After initially writing two limp tweets before retiring to the Oval to watch the chaos unfold on television, US President Donald Trump eventually released a video telling the rioters to “go home now”.
But he also repeated the unsubstantiated and increasingly unsupported claim that the election has been stolen.
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