Presiding Bishop of US Episcopal Church speaks out
Presiding Bishop of US Episcopal Church speaks out
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry strongly denounced the riotous assault on the United States Capitol on 6 January by supporters of President Donald Trump, referring to it as an "attempted coup."
[Episcopal News Service] Presiding Bishop Michael Curry strongly denounced the riotous assault on the United States Capitol on Jan. 6 by supporters of President Donald Trump, referring to it as an "attempted coup." At least one person was shot inside the Capitol when Trump supporters stormed past police into the building, entering the Senate chamber and leading police to deploy tear gas.
"The events at our Capitol today are deeply disturbing. We believe the actions of armed protesters represent a coup attempt," Curry said on Facebook Live shortly after 3:15 p.m. "Today's protesters pushed through
police barricades and forced their way into congressional chambers and … [are] threatening the safety of lawmakers, their staff and others who work in the Capitol complex.
This threatens the integrity of our democracy, the national security of our nation, the continuity of government, and the lives and safety of our legislators, their staffs, law enforcement and all who work in the Capitol."
The attack took place as Congress was meeting to certify the votes of the Electoral College and confirm President-elect Joe Biden's victory, which Trump and a Republican faction in Congress have sought to overturn on false grounds. It happened shortly after Trump held a rally at the White House in which he again falsely claimed to have won the election and asked Congress to overturn the results, after which his supporters marched to the Capitol.
"We are a democracy with longstanding institutional norms that must be honored," Curry said in his brief address, "foremost among them following the processes laid out in the Constitution and federal statute to facilitate the peaceful and orderly transfer of power."