DC Mayor Orders Curfew as Trump Supporters Storm U.S. Capitol

Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered a citywide curfew starting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, as protesters supporting President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol Building, sending Congress into lockdown.

From 6 p.m. Wednesday to 6 a.m. Thursday, “no person, other than those designated by the Mayor, shall walk, bike, run, loiter, stand or motor by car” in any public place in the city, Bowser ordered.

The curfew does not apply to essential workers performing “essential functions,” including credentialed members of the media.

KEY BACKGROUND

Pro-Trump protesters gathered in Washington on Wednesday as Congress gathered to count the electoral votes in the presidential election. After a rally addressed by Trump and key allies like attorney Rudy Giuliani, supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol building, pushing past law enforcement and entering the building. The protests forced both chambers of Congress to stop their debate over Arizona’s electoral votes, and lawmakers have reportedly gone into lockdown and moved to a secure location amid the chaos. After encouraging his supporters to gather in D.C. and urging lawmakers and Pence to overturn the election results, Trump appeared to try to pump the brakes on Twitter Wednesday, telling protesters to “stay peaceful.”