Ian Sylvester, of Hudson, Co., waves a huge flag during a rally in support of President Donald Trump in front of the Colorado State Capitol. Jan 6, 2021.
Hundreds of pro-Trump supporters descended on the state Capitol Wednesday for a rally disputing the results of the 2020 election as Congress held a joint session confirming the election's results.
A rally called "We Are the Storm!" was slated to begin at noon, but hundreds of people showed up beforehand, waving U.S. and blue Trump flags and wearing Make America Great Again hats. Around 2 p.m., Mayor Michael Hancock estimated the crowd had grown to 700 people. Hancock said he was closing all city buildings out of "an abundance of caution."
The event in Denver remained largely peaceful through 2 p.m. Meanwhile, the U.S. Capitol was put under a lockdown as people stormed the building.
Lawrence Johnston of Littleton said he attended Wednesday's rally to support the president.
"We have a lot of concern about certain forces that have seemed to infiltrate the U.S. that have made a lot of social movements that have tried to derail the republic," Johnston said. "We're here to stop it if we can."
He said he believed election fraud had occurred and that the election had been stolen from Trump (those claims have been debunked). He said he didn't support the riots that occurred at the U.S. Capitol Wednesday and thought they might have been carried out by "Antifa," not Trump supporters.
"It's very alarming," he said. "I'm not behind it...We have to let the process work. We've got it sown up if we let the process work. Today what happened actually disrupts the process, and it's going to make it look bad for patriots."
According to the Denver Police Department, three people were arrested as of 4:45 p.m., for disturbing the peace, flourishing a taser and for assault.
A rally in support of President Donald Trump in front of the Colorado State Capitol. Jan 6, 2021. Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Jim Saunders preaches to people rallying in support of President Donald Trump in front of the Colorado State Capitol. Jan 6, 2021. Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
The crowd extends their hands toward the Colorado State Capitol in prayer during a rally in support of President Donald Trump. Jan 6, 2021. Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Proud Boys march into a rally in support of President Donald Trump in front of the Colorado State Capitol. Jan 6, 2021. Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
A rally in support of President Donald Trump in front of the Colorado State Capitol. Jan 6, 2021. Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Yvonne Dawdy dances beneath two flying flags during a rally in support of President Donald Trump in front of the Colorado State Capitol. Jan 6, 2021. Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Steve Barlock, former GOP canditate and co-chair of Donald Trump's presidential campaign, speaks during a rally in support of the president in front of the Colorado State Capitol. Jan 6, 2021. Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Men argue during a rally in support of President Donald Trump in front of the Colorado State Capitol. Jan 6, 2021. Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Kids play in the grass during a rally in support of President Donald Trump in front of the Colorado State Capitol. Jan 6, 2021. Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Connor Evans works out in the grass during a rally in support of President Donald Trump in front of the Colorado State Capitol. Jan 6, 2021. Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
A rally in support of President Donald Trump in front of the Colorado State Capitol. Jan 6, 2021. Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Law Johnston stands in front of the Capitol during a rally in support of President Donald Trump. Jan 6, 2021. Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
