BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — According to Boston-based political historian Dr. James Boys, the violent protest in Washington D.C. is the closest thing to an attempted coup that the U.S. has ever seen.
"The idea that we're talking about an armed stand-off, just outside the House chamber ... is horrifying," Dr. Boys told WBZ NewsRadio. "This is the sort of thing that of course we've seen in other countries around the world, but I don't think anybody ever expected it to be seen on the United States Capitol."
Tens of thousands of President Trump's supporters converged on Capitol Hill Wednesday for a rally called "Stop The Steal." Within hours, demonstrators had breached security measures and forcefully entered the chambers of Congress as lawmakers were evacuated.
The violence temporarily halted the Senate's official ratification of the state's electoral votes to certify Joe Biden as the next President-elect.
The demonstration quickly turned violent, with windows of the Capitol being broken, teargas and shots being fired, and armed officers seen escorting members of the public out of congressional offices.
The Mayor of D.C. has called on the National Guard to control the crowds, and the city has been placed under a 6 p.m. curfew.
Dr. Boys said it's unprecedented and very dangerous to watch a U.S. president encouraging both members of congress and members of the general public to rise up again the will of the people.
"When you consider how coups are orchestrated overseas, and you consider how it is that despot leaders act when their authority is challenged and their time in power is coming to an end, the level of desperation they resort to certainly has parallels with what President Trump is doing at this time," Dr. Boys said.
WBZ NewsRadio's Kim Tunnicliffe reports:
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Written by Brit Smith
(Photo: Getty Images)