Here’s a completely unedited video clip from the time the mob overruns the officers out front until a few minutes after the woman was shot and killed.
A few thoughts...
First, in spite of probably knowing they were in violation of the law by being in the building, there do seem to be some legit voices of reason within the crowd urging people not to be violent. Unfortunately, they were quickly drowned out when mob mentality took over.
Secondly, they were fortunate that the Capitol was laid out the way it was allowing for people in the back end of the hallway to fan out to the sides once they reached the main entrance to the House floor around the 27:00 mark. They weren’t getting through that door, as on the other side was the picture everyone saw from inside the chamber with the police with drawn guns and a large barricade. If not for the extra space at the back, it’s entirely possible a Hillsborough type crush occurs up against that door.
Lastly, I hope the FBI is able to identify the guy in the furry Canada Goose hat at 33:55. As much as anyone, he bears responsibility for the woman being killed. He whips the mob into a such frenzy of needing to get through the door into Pelosi’s lobby that the officers outside the door have no choice but to move. Then he helps break out the glass right before she tries to climb through. Some people have tried to say the guy who shot her deserves to be charged, but I don’t see how you can watch that and find any fault in his actions.
Yeah, I watched that. Long, and a warning to anyone watching as shows the shooting up close.
what struck me is the pally-ness with the cops. It’s all “dude. Bro. We don’t want anyone to get hurt”. The cops were so outnumbered, so quickly, that they had to back off and back off, and keep conceding ground.
it seems like there were distinct groups there. A genuinely non-violent set of protestors, who got carried along with the crowd, and didn’t really know what to do when they got there, so ended up streaming themselves on tik Tok and getting selfies.
Then there were the well prepared group, with cable ties, and body armour who seemed to have more of a plan of intent.
as you say, there are one or 2 individuals who escalate the situation a lot, and mob mentality kicks in.
www.independent.co.uk
