Capitol riot: Five startling images from the siege (BBC News)
Author: BBC News
“Capitol Riot: Five Startling Images from the Siege.” BBC News, BBC, 7 Jan. 2021, www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-55577824.
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IMAGE COPYRIGHTMIKE THEILER / REUTERS
As violent Trump supporters surged past barricades and into the US Capitol, news agency photographers - who were there to document the vote certifying Joe Biden's election win - captured extraordinary scenes.
The last time government buildings were breached in Washington was in 1814 and the invaders were British soldiers.
What I Know: I learned about this in my history classes as a young student but never thought about it as much more than a moment in history removed from my own experience. It was a moment I was asked to learn about and I am sure that there might might have been a question about this on a quiz I might have taken.
What I Think I Know: I think that the level of preparation for this moment would have been something anticipated of a war-time situation (protect one’s capitol).
What I Want to Know More About: What are the parallels between this breach from history and the more current breach (which also becomes a part of our history now as a nation).
The Confederacy was the group of southern states that fought to keep slavery during the American Civil War. In this image, the oil paintings of political figures in the background emphasise this imagery of the past.
There have been renewed calls for the Confederate flag to be banned across the US following the anti-racism protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd, a black man.
However Mr Trump has defended use of the flag, calling it a matter of free speech.
What I Know: Is what I don’t know. I don’t know this image but I think I know what it is depicting.
What I Think I Know: This would be a surrender faciliated by General George Washington. That the surrender happens here in a moment suggesting formality, a coming together of the two sides, is something I would like to explore a bit more.
What I Want to Know More About: How this image serves as a backdrop for the whole of this visual composition.
I believe this is how the three-tiered approach invites more research and possible opportunities for writing and making an argument instead of a “passing” appreciation of an image.
As a man merrily carries a podium bearing the symbol of the Speaker of the House, he bears the eye of so many. Not only has this photo gone viral, but the eyes of our country’s former leaders, in art form, stare him down in despondency. The people sanding by, I would hope, should recognize this immoral act. I think I know this is utterly disrespectful. I think I know we are taught to stand up for what is right at an early age, and those people standing by do anything but that. For future reference, I would be happy to know how this act can be justified morally and lawfully.
IMAGE COPYRIGHTWIN MCNAMEE / GETTY IMAGES
One man in a Trump beanie here walks between the red guide ropes, as many visitors might do on a guided-tour to view the Crypt, the Statuary Hall and the Rotunda.
But this man is carrying a podium bearing the seal of the Speaker of the House, as he poses in front of a painting depicting the surrender of Gen Burgoyne in the war of independence.
Half of the people who stormed the capital on January 6 were not even wearing masks which is a mandate and should be done to protect themselves and others. I would really like to know why people can not see how that masks are necessary and I would like to look into the mentality of the people who do not wear masks.
I wonder what his parents, friends, and family must think of him. What is Trump’s fanbase that he is one of the top men representing him?
IMAGE COPYRIGHTWIN MCNAMEE / GETTY IMAGES
Another man, identified as Jake Angeli, an ardent Trump supporter who has attended a number of the president's rallies, shouts as he makes his way to the Senate Chamber.
His incongruous garments set him apart from other protesters wearing black hoodies. These Trump activists stand by taking selfies, but he has clearly come here to be photographed by others.
The author presents a comment about the intent of each person in this moment. Certainly, no protestor was invited into the building, but the entrants into this moment carry varying degrees of purpose and intent. If one were looking for a visual of “performative,” they need only to look to the right of this image. What is compelling is that our nation’s ensign separates the two presentations here. It’s an image that might be explored deeply by our participants here at NowComment
The apparent lack of a security presence is in sharp contrast to other Washington protests where there is a highly visible presence of heavily armed security forces protecting US institutions.
This man had the audacity to waltz into the Capitol like he owned the place, put his dirty feet on the Speaker of the House’s desk, sit in her chair, and consider that reasonable. I am. Infuriated.
What I Know: There is protocol for the handling our nation’s colors that is clearly-expressed and accessible by anyone handling them whether it might be my neighbor with his brand new flag pole by his driveway or the “parading” of the colors in a public presence or demonstration or protest.
What I Think I Know: That the figure in this image has an appreciation of what he believes belongs to him but no real appreciation of what might belong to we, the collective citizenry of the country.
What I Would Like to Know More About: What is the disposition of this flag now? Does it become artifact of the moment or will it be stored as memorabilia by the person as proof of the day?
When viewing this picture I do not really know what to think. I feel that what may be going through this mans mind could be something about trying to provoke and remember the fact that the government works for the people the people do not work for the government. To add to this, I believe that all of the people that broke into the Capitol Building are radical right, as I believe the rioters that would burn and loot businesses during the BLM protests would be radical left. I think that these people edge on the monstrosity of the two party system. They make the descriptions of the republicans or democrats. When the radical left rioters burn businesses and loot them, it makes the democrat/liberals have a bad rep. I believe the same for republicans/conservatives. All of the people that were just marching and attending I do not have any issue with as it is their right, once the people started breaking into the Capitol it just kind of gave me that feeling of this could be big. That event made me realize that being a liberal or conservative is not completely where the division is at, but more when getting into the radical left or right that DO the burning and looting and murdering of others and businesses. Having different opinions about certain topics should not cause the division that they have and just having these awful people on both sides just edge on everyone and gives them the state of mind that the other side did this and that makes them all bad people. All in all, I believe if people did not generalized a whole group of people based on a handful of the bad people in that group, it would help reunite America and help restore some of the division caused by the idea of judging a group based off of a few from that group.
These photos are completely a disgrace to America. It is sad to say I am apart of a country who on both sides, terrorize and destroy to get a point across. We are acting like toddlers. What has this world become? I think the people who are rioting and looting, destroying are radicals. It does not matter what side. Both were wrong in aspects even if it had good intentions from the beginning. The things that went through the people’s head as they did this was pure hate. We as a country should stand together, with each other. and the truth is we are not, and that is what is tearing our country apart.
I fully agree, I believe that each side has their radicals, and to add to that I believe those radicals set the stereotypes that make each other look bad. In Laymen terms they are the ones causing such division, although enough of that does come from the two party system.
I don’t know much about politics. Math and history are simple, but if you ask me a question about politics I am completely clueless!
What I DO know is that this desk belongs to the House Speaker, and she WORKS there. It’s pretty rude to make a joke out of someone’s work.
The flag on the dresser is another sign of disrespect, but I don’t know if he put it there deliberately or on accident. He has his phone out and his foot on someone else’s desk. (he’s even pointing to it, he knows it’s there) It all seems deliberate to me.
What I want to know is what he wanted to accomplish by this. What I get from this image is that he doesn’t care about the country. And if he doesn’t care, then why was he even there?
IMAGE COPYRIGHTSAUL LOEB / AFP
Another Trump supporter, identified as Richard Barnett, sits with one boot disrespectfully on a desk that is at the very centre of power in Congress. It is in the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
In the scene, unimaginable days earlier, Barnett in his baseball cap and checked shirt resembles a raconteur regaling friends with tales of his exploits.
The image went viral as did pictures of the notes he and others left on Ms Pelosi's desk.
The glass in the windows are broken, guns are drawn, and the people seem to be frantically running. While many protesters did not see something wrong in what was being done, breaking in and stealing from the Capitol is not “proper Capitol etiquette” from anyone. Political parties aside, this was a groundbreaking moment for the United States.
—done given their situation. This photo most likely sends a terrible message to other countries watching from afar of our government trying to pacify the rioters with firearms and nightsticks.
I have the same concerns as you Brenna. I keep asking myself how hard the cops would be fighting if it were the acts of BLM. The same people who claim to love the government are attacking it. For what? What are they gaining from this besides embarrassment?
IMAGE COPYRIGHTDREW ANGERER / GETTY IMAGES
This dramatic image shows how the formal proceedings came to a violent halt as Capitol police officers drew their guns on doors being attacked by protesters intent on entering the House Chamber.
Many commentators asked if they were watching a coup unfold as doors were barricaded and firearms brandished.
The composition is reminiscent of a scene in a Hollywood Western, the lawmen bracing for the doors to be breached.
US President-elect Joe Biden made an impassioned TV address describing the scenes as "an assault on democracy" - this chilling picture encapsulates what he meant.
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