Ohio Lawmakers Condemn Breach, Violence At U.S. Capitol

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As hundreds of demonstrators stormed the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, Ohio's elected representatives condemned the violence and urged them to cooperate with police and deescalate the violence.

Protests in Washington, D.C. were sparked as the U.S. Congress moved to count the Electoral College votes from the November presidential election. Far right supporters of President Donald Trump, who lost to President-elect Joe Biden, stormed barricades and forced their way into the Capitol building, disrupting the process.

At approximately 2:40 p.m. the president tweeted: "Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country. Stay peaceful!"

For live updates, read Patch's story on the Capitol siege.

Ohio's elected officials, from both parties, have similarly called for the violence to stop.

Republican Rep. Jim Jordan, who spent previous weeks saying Biden's election win was a fraud and urging Trump not to concede, told those participating in the riot to "Stop the violence. Support Capitol police."

"The violent behavior occurring on Capitol Hill this afternoon does not change our U.S. Constitution or the laws Congress is sworn to uphold. As I've stated many times, violence has never been the answer and I strongly condemn these actions. This is un-American," said Rep. Troy Balderson.

"Put an end to this chaos and violence. It wasn’t acceptable earlier this year and it isn’t acceptable today," said Rep. Dave Joyce.

Democrats took aim at Trump, blaming him Wednesday's riots. The president has lost more than 60 court challenges nationwide as judges have ruled his attorneys have presented no proof of voter fraud or election tampering, a fact many Democrats noted in condemning the riots.

"This, all of this, is on Donald Trump. His rhetoric and actions to incite such mayhem for political gain is reprehensible and dangerous. This is not our America," said Rep. Marcy Kaptur.

"This is not ok. We are a nation of laws. Please pray for all of our law enforcement, elected officials and staff on Capitol Hill. Please pray for our country," said Rep. Tim Ryan.

Other key Democrats from Ohio took to social media to announce they were safe during the violence at the Capitol. Senator Sherrod Brown's wife, Connie Schultz, said her husband was OK and in lockdown. Rep. Joyce Beatty said simply, "I am safe."

Gov. Mike DeWine issued a statement condemning the violence in D.C.

"This is an embarrassment to our country. This must stop immediately. The President should call for the demonstrators to leave our Capitol Building. The final step in the constitutional process of electing our president has been disrupted. The stopping of the count of the Electoral College votes has occurred because the security of the U.S. Capitol has been breached by a violent mob. As a nation of laws, this is simply not acceptable. Lawlessness is not acceptable. This is an affront to our Constitution and everything we hold dear. Those who breached the Capitol breached the Constitution. Peaceful demonstrations outside the Capitol are an exercise of the demonstrators’ First Amendment rights. Stopping the constitutional process by which we elect the president is not."

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered a citywide curfew from 6 p.m. Wednesday to 6 a.m. Thursday. No person other than those designated by the mayor can walk, bike, run loiter, stand, or travel by car or other mode of transportation on any District street, alley, park, or other public place.

The curfew does not apply to essential workers, including working media with outlet-issued credentials, when they are engaged in essential functions or traveling to and from their essential work.