ARMED supporters of US President Trump stormed the Capitol building and forced a lockdown on Wednesday evening. However, the attempted coup failed.
A woman was shot dead by police and three others died of ‘medical emergencies’, US police have said. The masses of right wingers just pushed their way past the Capitol security.
The right-wing mob managed to make it all the way to the Senate floor and the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
The massive trade union movement under the AFL-CIO had pledged to call a general strike if Trump refused to accept the results of the election.
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said yesterday: ‘We are witnessing one of the greatest assaults on our democracy since the Civil War. Today’s attempted coup has been years in the making as Donald Trump consistently spews venom, conspiracies, hate and lies to his supporters.
‘They are carrying out his wishes, and far too many Republican lawmakers have enabled and even encouraged this violent threat to our republic. Emboldened by an Electoral College system that creates an avenue for insurrection instead of simply certifying the candidate with the most votes, this is an effort to violate the constitutional rights of every law-abiding American and the labour movement will not stand for it. Not today. Not ever.’
Many workers are now demanding that the general strike decision is carried out and that Trump must be removed.
Hours after the failed coup, the US Congress certified Joe Biden’s victory in the presidential election.
After objections by some Republican lawmakers to overturn the result in Arizona and Pennsylvania were rejected, Congress formally certified the final electoral college vote with Biden receiving 306 votes to Trump’s 232.
Shortly afterwards, Trump said in a statement: ‘Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th.’
