Pro-Trump supporters storm the U.S. Capitol following a rally with President Donald Trump on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images) Various Jewish groups have issued statements condemning the violent mob at the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., on January 6.
Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) reported that those who are protesting the certification of the Electoral College vote for President-elect Joe Biden stormed the United States Capitol Building, causing members of Congress to evacuate their offices. At least one person has been shot, according to JTA, and that person has reportedly died.
Jewish groups condemned the violence.
“The right to protest is sacrosanct in American life,” Simon Wiesenthal Center Founder and Dean Rabbi Marvin Hier and Associate Director of Global Social Action Agenda Rabbi Abraham Cooper said in a statement. “But the very values and rights bestowed by our democracy are degraded and diminished when police officers have to draw their guns to protect our duly elected officials in the heart of our nation by violent protesters who have stormed Congress and by their reckless and dangerous behavior have inflicted grievous wounds on our nation.”
They added: “Nothing, not even the emotional charges of voter fraud in a presidential election, can ever legitimize or excuse such behavior. For as the Talmud warns, ‘Pray for the welfare of the government, for without it… man would swallow his fellow man.’ Today is a dark day for all Americans.”
The American Jewish Committee (AJC) tweeted, “The peaceful transition of power is the bedrock of our democracy. We are shocked and horrified by the violent riots taking place on Capitol Hill at this time. We urge @POTUS to call for an immediate end to the riots and respect the certification process currently underway.”
AJC President David Harris also blamed Trump for inciting the riots in a tweet, stating, “You’ve undermined democratic values by a refusal to accept the election results. You’ve encouraged folks to reject a peaceful transfer of power. I represent a nonpartisan org., but never when it comes to acts of violence & insurrection.”
The peaceful transition of power is the bedrock of our democracy.
We are shocked and horrified by the violent riots taking place on Capitol Hill at this time.
We urge @POTUS to call for an immediate end to the riots and respect the certification process currently underway.
— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) January 6, 2021
Pres. Trump,
You’ve incited rioters.
You’ve undermined democratic values by a refusal to accept the election results.
You’ve encouraged folks to reject a peaceful transfer of power.
I represent a nonpartisan org., but never when it comes to acts of violence & insurrection.
— David Harris (@DavidHarrisNY) January 6, 2021
A few hours after his supporters broke into the Capitol, Trump said in a Twitter video, “I know your pain, I know you’re hurt. We had an election that was stolen from us. It was a landslide election and everyone knows it. Especially the other side. But you have to go home now. We have to have peace. We love you. You’re special.” He also tweeted for protesters to “remain peaceful.”
But Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt tweeted that such tweets are “too little too late” and called for Twitter “to suspend @realDonaldTrump until his account stops promoting disinformation and inciting violence.” The Trump tweet was flagged by Twitter because “This claim of election fraud is disputed.” Twitter also prevented the the tweet from being liked, replied to, or retweeted “due to a disk of violence.”
Two bare minimum tweets after the Capitol has been stormed by extremists is too little, too late.
.@jack, it’s overdue to suspend @realDonaldTrump until his account stops promoting disinformation and inciting violence. https://t.co/GYQBFUN3Nq pic.twitter.com/mEUzUYvMJs— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) January 6, 2021
The Republican Jewish Coalition also called for the violence to stop. “We support peaceful protest, but storming the halls of Congress and the Capitol building is unacceptable,” they tweeted. “We condemn these actions. G-d bless the @CapitolPolice.”
Protesters must stop now.
We support peaceful protest, but storming the halls of Congress and the Capitol building is unacceptable. We condemn these actions.
G-d bless the @CapitolPolice
— RJC (@RJC) January 6, 2021
Jewish Democratic Council of America CEO Halie Soifer also tweeted, “Where are the arrests? Every person who entered the Capitol without permission should be arrested. Now. What took so long to deploy the National Guard and other federal forces? Unknown.”
What happened? The Capitol Police was overrun by an armed mob. It's an issues of numbers.
Where are the arrests? Every person who entered the Capitol without permission should be arrested. Now.
What took so long to deploy the National Guard and other federal forces? Unknown.
— Halie Soifer (@HalieSoifer) January 6, 2021
The Jewish Community Relations Council said in a statement that they condemn “the anti-democratic mob and its violent actions, and we call for an end to the inflammatory rhetoric driving civil unrest. Make no mistake, if order, decency and rational decision making do not prevail, the underpinnings of our social fabric are in jeopardy. We call on all elected officials, regardless of party or ideology, to unequivocally condemn this violence and allow Congress to uphold their constitutional duty by affirming the state certified, electoral college ratified results of the November 3 presidential election.”
The Rabbinical Assembly issued a prayer for the country in response to the violence.
Read Ron Kampeas’ reporting at JTA for coverage on the protests from members of congress themselves here.
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