Several thousand protesters marched on the US Capitol in Washington DC, the heart of American democracy and home to the House of Representatives and Senate, after President Trump and his supporters addressed them outside the House Blanca, who continue to make false claims of electoral fraud.
Law enforcement officers were overwhelmed, and amid scenes of crowd violence and clashes with police seen around the world on television, a woman was shot and killed inside the Capitol. Dozens of police officers were reportedly injured during the assault, with windows and doors broken, offices occupied and ransacked.
After the building was cleared and lawmakers resumed certification hearings in the middle of the night, amid a Republican minority effort to deny President-elect Joe Biden's victory, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-S.D., , described the mob violence as a "failed insurrection."
leadership responsibility
"The general secretary “is saddened by the events that occurred at the Capitol in Washington, DC, on Wednesday,” a spokesperson for António Guterres said , in response to correspondents' questions.
“In such circumstances, it is important for political leaders to instil in their followers the need to refrain from violence, as well as to respect democratic processes and the rule of law.”
I hope that peace prevails
Volkan bozkir , president of the UN General Assembly also expressed dismay at the scenes that unfolded on Capitol Hill.
In a Tweet , Mr. Bozkir said that "the United States is one of the world's leading democracies."
“I believe that peace and respect for democratic processes will prevail in our host country at this critical time,” he added.
Bachelet 'deeply concerned'
UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet added his concern on Thursday for the mob violence at the Capitol and said his office OHCHR was "deeply concerned" by the chaos that followed with lawmakers evacuated for their own safety, while many politicians and others the United States now calls "domestic terrorists" stalked the halls and chambers of government.
She said the assault had "clearly demonstrated the destructive impact of the sustained and deliberate distortion of facts and the incitement of violence and hatred by political leaders," the High Commissioner said.
"Allegations of electoral fraud have been invoked to attempt to undermine the right to political participation. We are encouraged to see that the process has continued despite serious attempts to disrupt it," he continued.
"We call on leaders across the political spectrum, including the president of the United States, to reject false and dangerous narratives and encourage their supporters to do so as well."
Unacceptable assault
The Union Interparliamentary (UIP), an international organization that promotes global parliamentary dialogue and representative democracy, also denounced the violence.
“The IPU and the parliamentary community strongly condemn the violence and assault on the United States Capitol by protesters on Wednesday, January 6,” the body said in a statement. release .
"The integrity of this bastion of democracy and of the representatives of the people of the United States must be respected," he urged.
Martin Chungong, Secretary General of the IPU, said he was "deeply shocked" by the news of the violence.
“This is an unacceptable and shameful attack on democracy and its representatives,” he said.