What It Was Like to Be Inside the Capitol on January 6

Shattered glass, gunfire, and a rushed evacuation.

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For those of us who were at the Capitol January 6—it’s never really ended. 

When I go to work, I walk the same halls that in the aftermath were littered with shattered glass and debris. The detritus is gone now. But the memories aren’t.

When I listen to lawmakers’ speechifying and go to watch votes in the House of Representatives, I sit in the wooden rows of seats in the upper balcony of press galleries, the same ones that I crouched behind that day when security yelled at us to get down, now.

Where below in the chamber, I could see just how close we came to the mob.

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  1. Avatar photo
    Ben Connelly

    “ But he didn’t walk down to the Capitol with the rioters. He returned to the White House, where he would watch what unfolded in safety.”

    What a coward. What a gutless, spineless coward. I’ve never understood the people who thought Donald Trump - of all people - was tough.

    Harvest, thank you for sharing. I hope that your words can help those who downplay that day to understand some of the pain it caused. I hope that writing about it in some way serves to help you cope with the memories of that day. And I hope that I will never live to see something like it happen again.

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  2. Brook

    Thanks, Harvest, for this detailed account. It’s tragic you had to write this, but I am glad, since you were there, you memorialized your harrowing experience.

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    Jeremiah

    I remember reading your updates as they came out last year. I was one of the many praying for you. Thanks again for being a trustworthy reporter. Even when the story came to you, you reported on the story. It definitely helped make it very real for me and gave me a very low tolerance of those who want to diminish what happened.

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  4. Jaybrown

    This is powerful, unspun, honest, and real. Thank you.

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    Philbnichols

    Thanks, Harvest.

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    Peter A

    Great piece. Thank you for sharing your experience. One thing - Rep. Ruben Gallego was not a freshman. He's been in Congress since 2015.

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      Harvest Prude vertical-nib Author

      good catch! will fix

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    Cheves Ligon

    This was harrowing. And enraging—these losers perpetrated a terrorist act but now it’s ho-hum “let’s move on.” Pieces like this should be read far and wide. Thank you, Ms. Prude.

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    1. David B.

      Worse than "let's move on." It's "can you believe these American Patriots are being held in jail" for the simple criminal act of trying to overthrow the US government??? Disgusting.

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    Graham Slater

    Harvest, thanks for writing this, and sharing your feelings, emotions, and experiences so honestly. I hope you're doing well today, and I wish you the best as you move forward.

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    Andrewabranch

    (The Dispatch really needs more of this sights/sounds/smells reporting somewhere in its niche. It's what WORLD excelled at)

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    Stephanie

    There is so much double talk. If it was not Trump's supporters, why would he say "We love you. You're very special."

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    1. Richard Fulmer

      Trump loves all Americans, even Antifa. /sarc

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