The Republican National Committee (RNC) members on Wednesday (local time) condemned the violence at the United States Capitol, and said that the violent scenes do not represent acts of 'patriotism'.
"The members of the Republican National Committee strongly condemn the violence in and around the United States Capitol Building today in Washington," according to the RNC statement. "These violent scenes we have witnessed do not represent acts of patriotism, but an attack on our country and its founding principles," the statement reads.
"Our Founding Fathers established a nation of laws, not a nation of anarchy. We call for all those involved to listen to law enforcement officials and help restore order in our nation's capital," it added.
The comments came after chaotic and violent scene unfolded at the Capitol on Wednesday as supporters of President Donald Trump swarmed the building to protest the Electoral College vote, forcing a lockdown and various confrontations with police, The Hill reported.
Rioters overpowered police and broke into the Capitol to protest as a joint session of Congress convened to certify President-elect Joe Biden's win. Multiple officers were injured in the scuffle.
Here are some photographs of the violence.
IMAGE: A supporter of US President Donald Trump gets detained by law enforcement officers at the US Capitol during a protest against the certification of the 2020 US presidential election results by the US Congress, in Washington, USA, January 6, 2021. Photograph: Jim Urquhart / Reuters.
IMAGE: Police officers detain a pro-Trump protester, during clashes at a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 U.S. presidential election results by the US Congress. Photograph: Shannon Stapleton / Reuters.
IMAGE: Pro-Trump protesters tear down a barricade as they clash with Capitol police during a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 US. presidential election results by the US Congress. Photograph: Shannon Stapleton / Reuters.
IMAGE: A protester is treated after getting pepper sprayed during clashes with Capitol police at a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 US presidential election results by the US Congress. Photograph: Shannon Stapleton/ Reuters.
IMAGE: Pro-Trump protesters wave banners during clashes with Capitol police at a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 US presidential election results by the US Congress. Photograph: Shannon Stapleton / Reuters.
IMAGE: A protester climbs a barricade during clashes with Capitol police at a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 US presidential election results by the US Congress. Photograph: Shannon Stapleton/ Reuters.
IMAGE: Police confront supporters of President Donald Trump as they demonstrate on the second floor of the US Capitol near the entrance to the Senate after breaching security defenses, in Washington, USA, January 6, 2021. Photograph: Mike Theiler / Reuters.
Watch the video of Donald Trump supporters clashing with the US Capitol police, below
