By Paul Gattis
U.S. Representative Terri Sewell shares her experiences during the violent protests in the capital.
U.S. Representative Terri Sewell said Monday she was disappointed in her colleagues in Congress from Alabama after Wednesday’s violent protests in the nation’s capital city.
“It’s a sad day. It’s a sad week. It’s a sad chapter in America’s history,” Sewell said in a live video interview. She said “it was deeply disappointing” that she and Sen. Richard Shelby were the only members of Congress from Alabama who didn’t object to U the Electoral College count affirming President-Elect Joe Biden’s victory.
A violent protest, comprised of Trump supporters at the U.S. Capitol to protest against lawmakers finalizing Electoral College votes that secured Biden’s victory over President Donald Trump, broke out Wednesday afternoon. The crowd broke through security and into the Capitol building, leaving five people dead. One of the dead was from Alabama, and at least one of those arrested was also from Alabama.
Sewell called the experience, where she and her colleagues in the House chamber put on masks to protect themselves from tear gas and hid in an undisclosed bunker, “surreal” and “absolutely unacceptable.”
“We cannot be intimidated by such violence,” she said.
“I can’t tell you how horrifying it was to not feel safe in your own space, where you work every day,” the representative said. “I cannot tell you that I close my eyes sometimes and I literally cannot get to sleep because those memories, those sounds, are so implanted in my brain.”
She also said she was concerned about security in Washington D.C. on Inauguration Day, January 20.
“It is imperative that such incitement of violence be answered. And, some action has to be taken for those people who stormed the Capitol.”
Sewell said she’s been hesitant on speaking out against Rep. Mo Brooks, who told the crowd it was their day to start “kicking ass,” because Alabama congress people have historically “really prided ourselves on having a level of civility” with one another.
Brooks said Friday he would not apologize for the speech. “Actions have, you know, consequences,” Sewell said. “And the words that Mo Brooks… did fuel the flame. And the fact that he would not apologize is not only unacceptable to me, it’s actually personally offensive as a fellow member of our delegation to know that, someone I work with and have worked with on behalf of the state of Alabama, would fuel those flames and incite that violence is deeply, deeply offensive.”
Sewell said while she supported impeachment and believes Trump is a danger to the country and must be removed from office, she had hoped the 25th Amendment would be invoked and members of the president’s Cabinet would ask him to resign.