‘Unacceptable and un-American’: Missouri Congressional delegation responds after mob storms Capitol
After a mob of President Donald Trump’s supporters sieged the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, sending lawmakers into hiding and suspending the process of certifying electoral votes, Missouri lawmakers responded online to what they described as “seditious behavior,” “lawlessness” and “thuggery.”
Members of the state’s Congressional delegation denounced the mob’s violent behavior and voiced support for law enforcement on the scene.
Sen. Josh Hawley, a Republican, has faced backlash for publicly denouncing the results of the election, with critics saying rhetoric like his fueled the insurgents. His press office tweeted remarks from the senator, calling for the prosecution of those who broke the law.
Statement from Senator Josh Hawley:
Thank you to the brave law enforcement officials who have put their lives on the line. The violence must end, those who attacked police and broke the law must be prosecuted, and Congress must get back to work and finish its job
— Senator Hawley Press Office (@SenHawleyPress) January 6, 2021
Sen. Roy Blunt, a Republican, tweeted his opposition to the actions of the demonstrators.
The events unfolding at the Capitol are shameful. There is no justification for violence and destruction. It has to stop now. This is not who we are as a nation. Thank you to the Capitol Police who are keeping us safe.
— Senator Roy Blunt (@RoyBlunt) January 6, 2021
When New York Times journalist Jonathan Martin asked Blunt what he wanted to hear from Trump in response to the events, Blunt said, “I don’t want to hear anything,” and called it the saddest day he’s seen in Congress.
Ahead of Wednesday’s session, Hawley and all but one of Missouri’s Republican House members indicated they planned to object to the election results. Certification, normally a routine final step in the electoral process, had become a point of contention as Trump continued to challenge the result of November’s presidential election on the basis of false theories of election fraud.
Missouri’s members of the House of Representatives responded on Twitter after Wednesday’s violence.
Notably, Rep. Cori Bush, D-St. Louis, who is in the first week of her first term in Congress, said she wants to expel those who incited violence at the Capitol.
My first resolution in Congress will be to call for the expulsion of the Republican members of Congress who incited this domestic terror attack on the Capitol.
— Cori Bush (@CoriBush) January 6, 2021
Other Missouri lawmakers also tweeted condemnations of the events, calling them “un-American” and “undemocratic.”
The violent riots we are seeing right now are despicable and have no place in our nation. The President needs to take decisive action immediately to stop this seditious behavior.
— Ann Wagner (@RepAnnWagner) January 6, 2021
Peaceful protesting is acceptable.
Violence, lawlessness and attacks on law enforcement are absolutely not.
— Blaine Luetkemeyer (@RepBlaine) January 6, 2021
It was Oscar Wilde who said “When Liberty comes with hands dabbled in blood, it is hard to shake hands with her.”
The current acts of violence can never be accepted under any circumstances no matter your political affiliation.— Rep. Jason Smith (@RepJasonSmith) January 6, 2021
This is thuggery and violators must be punished to the fullest extent allowed under federal law. We cannot heal our divides as a nation if this lawlessness persists.
— Rep. Vicky Hartzler (@RepHartzler) January 6, 2021
I am currently locked down in a safe and secure location. The country that I am seeing on television is unrecognizable to me. I will continue to pray for the safety of my colleagues and the Capitol Police Officers.
— Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (@repcleaver) January 6, 2021
Peaceful protests are protected by the Constitution, but this is not how we settle disputes in America.
The violence and lawlessness happening at the United States Capitol right now is completely unacceptable and un-American. This is not what democracy looks like.
— Rep. Sam Graves (@RepSamGraves) January 6, 2021
My statement on the events that occurred in Washington, D.C. at the United States Capitol Building: pic.twitter.com/YhD1OHstzY
— U.S. Rep. Billy Long (@USRepLong) January 6, 2021
