Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Alaska leaders condemn violence at US Capitol

Many of Alaska’s elected representatives were on-site when rioters breached the building.

This is a developing story.

Alaskan leaders, including the state’s congressional delegation, publicly condemned the actions of rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and other lawmakers were onsite for a joint session to affirm President-elect Joe Biden’s electoral victory when rioters breached the building.

“My prayers are with the officers that are protecting and defending and who have gone down,” Murkowski tweeted. “Mr. President, tell your supporters to stop the violence. Stop the assault. Now.”

Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, also decried the violence, calling the action intolerable.

“My staff and I are currently safe and accounted for. Peaceful protest is fundamentally American, but violence must never be tolerated,” Young tweeted. “I call on protestors to comply with Capitol Police, stand down, and leave the Capitol Building so that our Constitutional duties may resume.”

Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, voiced his disgust at the actions of the mob.

“I am disgusted by the lawless acts of violence being perpetrated at the Capitol. Disgraceful,” Sullivan tweeted. “A sad day in American history. The world is watching. We are the United States of America. We must be better than this. We ARE better than this.”

Gov. Mike Dunleavy called the Republican party the party of law and order, claiming the extremists did not represent the values of the party, saying violence had no place in America.

Trump supporters participate in a rally Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021 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 baseless claims of election fraud. The president is expected to address a rally on the Ellipse, just south of the White House. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Trump supporters participate in a rally Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021 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 baseless claims of election fraud. The president is expected to address a rally on the Ellipse, just south of the White House. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

“I’m deeply saddened & appalled to see the violence at the U.S. Capitol today. Acts of violence have no place in our great country,” Dunleavy tweeted. “Republicans are the party of law & order. These few extremists do not represent our values.”

Alaska State Senate Democratic leader Tom Begich, D-Anchorage, also issued a fiery denouncement of both the actions of the rioters and the president who encouraged them.

Trump supporters gesture to U.S. Capitol Police in the hallway outside of the Senate chamber at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Trump supporters gesture to U.S. Capitol Police in the hallway outside of the Senate chamber at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

“As I watch the mobs of the President’s supporters storm the U.S. Capitol building, inflamed by a President who has walked away from his oath of office, my heart breaks for our democracy. We are a nation of laws. We are a nation that respects the electoral process,” Begich said in a statement. “Never in our history have we seen violence incited by a sitting President who so despises our American system that he would see it torn down rather than defend it. This is sedition.”

Begich and other state legislators will return to Juneau in days to begin the legislative session. Begich reached back into history to point out the last time the sanctity of the Capitol was breached, it was by a country America was at war with more than two centuries ago.

U.S. Capitol Police with guns drawn stand near a barricaded door as protesters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

U.S. Capitol Police with guns drawn stand near a barricaded door as protesters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

“This vandalizing and defacing of democracy has no place here,” he said. “Our Capitol has not been occupied by hostile forces, our Congress driven from its halls, since the war of 1812. As Americans, we must defend our constitution and our country from this rejection of our laws. As elected officials, we swore oaths to honor and defend our state and federal constitutions. Ever since we were children, we have stood up and pledged allegiance to our nation,” Begich said. “Now I call on all elected officials, Republicans, Democrats, Independents, non-partisans, and all American citizens to condemn these actions and the actions of those who are inciting violence. We all must make efforts to heal this nation. Now.”

• Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at (757) 621-1197 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.

More in News

The Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore docks in Juneau in October, 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Ships in Port for t​​he Week of Sept. 17

Here’s what to expect this week.

Jordan Creek flows over a portion of a footbridge behind a shopping center Thursday evening. The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for Jordan Creek, Montana Creek and Auke Lake until 10 a.m. Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Flood warning for Jordan Creek, Montana Creek and Auke Lake issued until 10 a.m. Friday

Glacier Highway, structures near Jordan Creek may inundated, according to National Weather Service.

Soon-departing Assembly member and Deputy Mayor Maria Gladziszewski smiles for a photo at her seat in the Assembly chambers Thursday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Q&A: Deputy Mayor Gladziszewski prepares for departure, shares advice to candidates

The long-serving Juneau Assembly member nears the end of her final term.

Participants in the 38th Annual International Coastal Cleanup carry a fishnet to a boat on a coast near Sitka in August. (Ryan Morse / Sitka Conservation Society)
Resilient Peoples and Place: Coastal cleanup removes 1,400 lbs. of trash from Sitka’s beaches

Effort by wide range of groups part of global project that has collected 350 million lbs. of waste.

Cars drive past the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation building in Juneau on Thursday. This year’s Permanent Fund dividend will be $1,312, the state Department of Revenue announced. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
This year’s official Permanent Fund dividend: $1,312

Distribution of payments will begin Oct. 5.

Albino Mbie, a Mozambique-born musician whose band is now based in Boston, performs during a youth jam at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Wednesday night as a prelude to the Áak’w Rock Indigenous music festival that starts Thursday. His band is scheduled to perform at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Áakʼw Rock ready for full-fledged opening as ‘monumental, historic event’

Youth jam Wednesday offers preview as only Indigenous music festival in U.S. makes in-person debut.

This is a photo of the front page of the Juneau Empire on Sept. 21, 2005. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week of Sept. 24

Three decades of capital city coverage.

Photo of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Jarvis, date unknown. (Courtesy of Jack Hunter/ All Present and Accounted For)
Of things Jarvis, heroic men and reindeer

Author Steven Craig giving a talk on David Jarvis and the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Jarvis

Eleven of the 14 candidates seeking four seats on the Juneau Assembly in the Oct. 3 municipal election answer questions during a forum Friday night at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Assembly candidates challenged to offer plan of action, not just talk, at Tlingit and Haida forum

11 of 14 contenders for four seats get extra time to respond to some tough questioning.

Most Read