Governor, other Missouri politicians condemn breach of U.S. Capitol
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Gov. Mike Parson joined other Missouri politicians Wednesday in condemning the violence in Washington as pro-Trump protesters stormed the U.S. Capitol.
Gov. Mike Parson when asked about his reaction to the protests reiterated his stance as a "law and order" guy.
"I don't care what you present to be your cause you're under, you don't violate the law," Parson said. "There are rules and regulations and you have to abide by them."
Parson said protestors can be there but only peacefully and not to obstruct.
"People have a right to come in the building peacefully every day, but you don't have a right to come in here and do whatever you want to do," Parson said.
Other Missouri politicians, both Republicans and Democrats, condemned the violence.
Protesters in Washington, D.C., gathered Wednesday to oppose certification of the Electoral College vote giving Democrat Joe Biden the presidency over President Donald Trump. They stormed through barricades outside the Capitol after noon central time and went into the building.
One woman died after being shot inside the Capitol but details about how she was shot were not immediately available.
The Capitol was locked down Wednesday afternoon as members of Congress and their staff hid from protesters. Reports from the Capitol said officers had guns drawn as protesters tried to get into the House chamber.
Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-St. Elizabeth, was among the Missouri members of Congress releasing statements on social media about the Capitol breach.
"Peaceful protesting is acceptable," Luetkemeyer wrote. "Violence, lawlessness and attacks on law enforcement are absolutely not."
Luetkemeyer was among the members of Missouri's congressional delegation who pledged to object to the certification on Wednesday before it was stopped because of mobs inside the Capitol.
Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Harrisonville, also planned to object to the certification. In a statement released late Wednesday afternoon, Hartzler said "the violent rioting on Capitol Hill is appalling and must stop!"
Hartzler said lawbreakers must be punished and that the violence will prevent the nation from healing its divisions if it persists.
Republican Sen. Roy Blunt called the events at the Capitol "shameful."
"There is no justification for violence and destruction," Blunt wrote. "It has to stop now. This is not who we are as a nation. Thank you to the Capitol Police who are keeping us safe."
Blunt's fellow Republican senator from Missouri, Josh Hawley, is one of the central figures of the events playing out in Washington. Hawley was the first senator to say he would object to the certification, which is the final step in finalizing the election results before the inauguration on Jan. 20.
Hawley later tweeted that the "violence must end" and lawbreakers should be prosecuted.
"The violence must end, those who attacked police and broke the law must be prosecuted, and Congress must get back to work and finish its job," Hawley wrote.
Rep. Jason Smith, a southern Missouri Republican who also pledged to object to the certification, condemned the violence using a quote from author Oscar Wilde.
Rep. Ann Wager, a Republican who represents parts of the St. Louis area, panned the "violent riots" as "despicable."
"The President needs to take decisive action immediately to stop this seditious behavior," Wagner wrote.
Democratic Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver of Kansas City said on Twitter that he was locked down in a safe room inside the Capitol.
"The country that I am seeing on television is unrecognizable to me," Cleaver said.
State Rep. Martha Stevens, D-Columbia, called what was happening in Washington "surreal and terrifying." She labeled the events a "violent attempted coup."
State Sen. Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, also reacted on Twitter calling what was happening at the Capitol "domestic terrorism."
Rowden said what is happening in Washington is in contrast to events in Missouri's Capitol, where "it is possible for people to be civil in their disagreements while collectively embracing shared facts and a shared purpose."
Missouri's legislative session began Wednesday.
