In addition to the unpreparedness, the response remained tame as many who stormed the Capitol left
the building. Police in Washington reported a preliminary total of 69 arrests Wednesday, and most were accused of violating the city’s 6 p.m. curfew. U.S. Capitol Police made 14 arrests; 11 were charged with unlawfully entering the Capitol. Between May 30 and June 4 of last year, when Black Lives Matter protests gripped the nation, D.C. Metropolitan Police reported 427 arrests for curfew violations, burglaries, and other “riot-related events,” according to the department. On June 1, when Trump wanted to take a photo in front of St. John’s Church, U.S. Park Police teargassed a crowd of peaceful demonstrators in Lafayette Park to clear the way.
Updated Jan. 13, 2021 2:55 pm ET
As many as 20,000 National Guard troops are expected to deploy to Washington, D.C., ahead of the Jan. 20 inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.
Last year, in June, roughly 3,300 National Guard troops from 10 states deployed to Washington during racial-justice protests. The National Guard dates back to before the declaration of U.S. independence, and its troops have deployed to locations as far-flung as Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the Mexican border. Here is more about the force:
What is the National Guard?
The U.S. National Guard is a military force composed of citizen-soldiers organized and maintained by the states, and it serves as a reserve force for the U.S. Army and Air Force. The Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, by contrast, are part of the federal Defense Department and are ultimately under the command of the president, in his constitutional role as commander in chief.
Professor: Trump, Capitol riot will have lasting impact on GOP
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Members of the National Guard arrive to secure the area outside the U.S. Capitol, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Show MoreShow Less
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Police hold off Trump supporters who tried to break through a police barrier, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington. As Congress prepares to affirm President-elect Joe Biden s victory, thousands of people have gathered to show their support for President Donald Trump and his claims of election fraud. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Show MoreShow Less
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Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington. As Congress prepares to affirm President-elect Joe Biden s victory, thousands of people have gathered to show their support for President Donald Trump and his claims of election fraud. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Show MoreShow Less
The need for likes
Since the nature of social media is communication, it makes sense that the motivation for posting comes from the urge to connect with others. But this constant quest for likes (acceptance or attention) can lead to major psychological problems for some, said Peter Faustino, president of the Westchester County Psychological Association.
Identifying with a group too intimately can change the way someone thinks and behaves, resulting in a social media identity that’s reinforced by prolonged engagement with the group. In other words, social media groups can trick users into thinking that their real identities are concealed by virtual ones and that the behavior of the group is even acceptable and encouraged,” he said.