Anew video is exploding on social media, demonstrating the ferocity of the attack inside the Capitol — and the defense against it, with guns drawn and pointed. Meanwhile, three new arrests related to the insurrection took place on the third anniversary of the Jan 6th, 2021, violence.
At first, the video is hard to process.
We see rioters attempting to break into the House Chambers. Stunningly, they are doing so with Capitol Police holding them off with guns pointed at the heads of the intruders.
It takes place as two GOP legislators attempt to tone down emotions by trying to reason with the intruders as the protestors push up against the door with its broken glass.
One has to see it to understand the intensity of guns pointed at heads, heads that won’t back down, sure that they won’t be shot. These are primarily white, middle-class folks. Why would they fear shots from cops?
Watch as the intensity of the Jan 6th moment overwhelms you. One gets the sense that, unlike the “peaceful tourists” narrative now being promulgated by many MAGA apologists, the attack was even more extreme than we knew:
The new video demonstrates an intensity that we have not felt as intensely since that day’s violence was televised live.
NEW:
Dramatic new Jan. 6 video shows two GOP representatives speaking with Capitol rioters through the broken windows of the House chamber doors as officers point weapons at the mob attempting to breach the floor.
This evidence was released in response to a request by @NBCNews. pic.twitter.com/ZL5kgGlFzi
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) January 6, 2024
And it damn sure explains why Hawley was running as fast as he could. It also explains why the serious FBI search for insurrectionists continues unabated.
Having seen the ferocity of the fight, the guns aimed at people’s heads, and the unsuccessful efforts to de-escalate the moment, the emotional response to news that “another three January 6th insurrectionists were arrested in Florida today” is understandable.