Rep. Ruben Gallego Protected Members Of The Press During The Deadly Capitol Riots
The deadly Capitol riots led by far-right Trump supporters are still fresh on everyone’s minds. As politicians sheltered in secure locations, members of the press were left to fend for themselves. Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz. is being hailed as a hero for saving as many journalists as he could.
Journalists are thanking Rep. Ruben Gallego for his quick action during the Capitol riots.
We have all seen the images of rioters and looters storming the Capitol building. The images of Trump flags next to Confederate flags and Nazi flags is jarring enough without the accompanying images of violence. Five people died as a result of the attempted coup that aimed to stop the process of certifying President-elect Joe Biden’s win.
In the chaos, members of the press were allegedly left to fend for themselves.
According to Haley Talbot, who covers Congress for NBC and MSNBC, journalists were refused entry into a secure place as the Capitol was overrun.
Talbot recalls the terrifying moment when it was obvious that the Capitol was being overrun. Members of Congress grabbed gas masks under their seats and started to shelter in place. Then, once the chamber was being evacuated, journalists were denied entry to a secure location.
Rep. Gallego was a member of the Marines before he was a member of Congress.
“One of the most sacred parts of the oath I took when I enlisted in the Marines was to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. I always thought that I would only have to fight to defend that oath in warzones overseas – not on the floor of the U.S. Capitol,” Rep. Gallego said in a statement. “As we move on from this dark day in American history, we will do our duty to the American people and begin the long, hard work of restoring our democracy in the wake of President Trump’s four-year effort to destroy it.”
So many journalists are grateful that Rep. Gallego sheltered them in his office during one of the darkest days in American history.
Thank you, Rep. Gallego. Your actions at the Capitol likely saved lives.
