Thread by @StephenEHorn

In this thread, I'll be sharing clips and my experience from the #USCapitol riot on January 6, 2020. The full two hours of footage can be viewed on Rumble: tinyurl.com/y6on49s6

The morning in DC began with a large rally by the Washington Monument. I don't know the exact size of the crowd, but it appeared to at least be in the hundreds of thousands. While the speeches at this event were still going on, many protesters began to stream towards the capitol

My experience with the cross from protest to riot started with two trampled fences on the NW #USCapitol lawn:

By the time I arrived, the mob had already began climbing the scaffolding and onto the north set of stairs

Near the side of the stairs, I saw a man on an improvised stretcher who had allegedly been pushed off the balcony by police (see

https://twitter.com/FordFischer/status/1347036257541648385

)

Shortly after the man was taken away, rioters from this side began throwing projectiles at the officers on the stairs, who quickly retreated

With the police officers on the stairs gone, the rioters surged up the stairs through the scaffolding and over improvised ladders

One rioter offered bricks he found in a basin. Some were curious, but no takers

At least one of the rioters was armed with a baton, possibly stolen from police?

Another with a riot shield, likely stolen from the police as well

With no police presence on the plaza, many rioters headed for the door in the north corridor

When I arrived at the entrance, the window had already been busted out and the door damaged

Journalist @ElijahSchaffer: "They have the right to use lethal rounds once we're in"

The next line of police defense I saw was in the basement of the rotunda, where they violently clashed with the rioters. I witnessed a man fiddling with a fire extinguisher, then saw it sail over my head. Possibly the fire extinguisher reported to have struck Officer Sicknick?

I don't believe the I captured the man who had it, but maybe someone else will spot something. IIRC he was wearing darker clothing, with a somewhat pointed face mask and some headgear. I believe audible clink is top of extinguisher falling to ground.

A few feet and a few minutes away, a rioter damaging an exhibit was stopped by those around him

A few officers who were separated from the rest when the rotunda basement was overtaken were ushered to the side for their own safety

The rioters did not appear to encounter significant resistance until they had climbed up to the rotunda, and marched through the National Statuary Hall to the entrance of the House of Representatives

Out the window, I could see many police officers who appeared to be standing by

There were also a few police officers in the hallway outside the entrance to the House of Representatives who were not interfering in the attempts to gain access

The rioters retreated from the door a few minutes later when gas was deployed (it's possible some stayed, given that it is not possible to see through all the gas). Multiple officers were caught without gas masks

Rioters also made it into Pelosi's office suite, and vandalized a few items (in addition to taking selfies)

#USCapitol Rotunda: Come for the art, stay for the marijuana

Rioters struggled against the police officers who had established themselves at the west entry to the rotunda

At this point, there was quite a large crowd in the rotunda

As more officers began to gather at the edges of the rotunda, many in the crowd wanted to get out. The officers at first shut the doors (west side), but after a few minutes they were opened, allowing many out.

John Sullivan (@realjaydenx), a leftist activist who filmed inside the capitol building, and has accused of being an instigator. talking to protesters outside the capitol building.

A line of riot police was allowed to leave the capitol and make their way through the crowd. The officer in the lead is wearing a MAGA hat and no riot armor.

At the same time, a group of unarmored officers who had been on the trapped on the porch away from the door left as well

When I first saw a deflated tire on one of the police vehicles parked at the bottom of the steps, I assumed it had been slashed. However, I later saw a man deflating a nearby tire with what appeared to be a multitool