President Trump asked his supporters to be peaceful.
According to reporting by the Associated Press, a person familiar with the ongoing protests has confirmed one person was shot as clashes continued. The source for the AP spoke to them on condition of anonymity amid a chaotic situation.
WRBL has reached out to our local lawmakers for Alabama and Georgia to see if they’re safe and speak with them about the civil unrest currently unfolding in the nation’s capitol.
So far, WRBL has gotten statements and interviews from Georgia Rep. Sanford Bishop, who is currently sheltering in his Congressional Office in Washington.
“I’m appalled by it, not so much that the people are protesting, but that they have violated the accepted protocols and actually stormed the capitol. It’s a very volatile situation. I think were it not for the forbearance of the officers, it could possibly have escalated into something dangerous. The officers apparently appear to be standing down, they’re far outnumbered by the protestors and of course they have not done anything so far apparently to escalate,” Rep. Bishop said.
WRBL has also gotten word from Alabama Rep. Gary Palmer. The Congressman is currently in Washington, a spokesperson confirmed he is safe.
A spokesperson for Alabama Rep. Barry Moore says the Congressman is safe and doing well, but was not able to provide a more formal statement at this time.
WRBL Staff are still working to get in contact with Georgia Senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville and the other members of the two states’ Congressional Delegations.
Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks released the following statement on Twitter in response to the violence at the Capitol:
Senator Richard Shelby confirmed that he is safe during the ongoing clash in the capitol via Twitter.
Alabama Congresswoman Terri Sewell confirmed she is safe and sheltering via Twitter.
Rep. Robert Aderholt also confirmed he was able to evacuate as protesters breached the building’s security.
The Congressman also released a statement on the events in the Capitol, saying:
“I was on the House Floor this afternoon objecting to the electoral votes with many of my colleagues. We had to evacuate due to a security breach. I ask for your prayers during this time in our nation’s history. God has brought this nation through many dark days over the past 240 plus years. We have more times than not, been able to settle our disputes peaceably. I believe God will continue to guide and protect this nation. However, as a nation we need to seek his guidance in peace. He is in full control!”
Rep. Robert Aderholt
A spokesman for Georgia Rep. Drew Ferguson confirmed that the Congressman is safe.
Alabama’s Secretary of State John Merill and the state’s Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth both weighed in on the ongoing violence via Twitter:
In Columbus, Mayor Skip Henderson spoke with News 3, offering a local perspective on what’s happening in Washington.
“I don’t have words. I am so disappointed. This is something that I would expect to see on international news sites going on in other countries. But never in my wildest dreams did I expect to see something like this in the United States,” Henderson said, though he does not think unrest will break out in Columbus.
Alabama Rep. Jerry Carl reacted to the violence in Washington, praying for the safety of his colleagues while asserting the right for Americans to protest peacefully.
Both the Alabama Republican and Democratic Parties also reacted to the ongoing violence in the Capitol.
The same day he was released from the hospital for treatment of COVID-19, Birmingham mayor Randall Woodfin condemned the actions at the Capitol as unpatriotic and domestic terrorism.
Stay with News 3 as we continue to update this story as more information becomes available.