Speaker Heastie Statement on the Unrest at the U.S. Capitol

The violent attack on the U.S. Capitol and our democratic institutions that is occurring right now in Washington is deplorable. In the United States of America, we pride ourselves on a peaceful transition of power. This is domestic terrorism and it is an attempt to overthrow the elected will of the American people.

President Trump needs to call on his supporters to end this assault on our democracy. And he must – he absolutely must – concede that Joe Biden is the President-Elect of the United States. This needs to end now.

I am praying for all of those who work in the Capitol and the House and Senate office buildings – from our elected representatives and their staffs to the members of the media and those who go to work every day to keep the Capitol running.