Kansas Congress members react to crowds storming the US Capitol building

TOPEKA, Kan. – Kansas officials across the board have released statements in reaction to President Donald Trump supporters storming to U.S. Capital Wednesday.

Protestors stormed the Capital building as Congress was meeting to discuss certifying the election of President-elect Joe Biden. The Associated Press reports one person has been shot and the National Guard and federal police had been activated to assist law enforcement in the area.

Senator Jerry Moran tweeted out his opposition to the storming saying, in part, “I condemn the violence and destruction at the U.S. Capital in the strongest possible terms.”

Rep. Sharice Davids tweeted out that she is safe and sheltering in place.

Rep. Tracey Mann tweeted out while he is a believer in the First Amendment, the actions taking place at the Capital are “unacceptable.”

Rep. Ron Estes on Twitter said, “violence of any kind is unacceptable.”

Senator Roger Marshall released the following statement:

“The freedom of speech and the freedom to protest are provided in our Constitution. I share the frustration many Americans have over the Presidential Election; however, what happened at the U.S. Capital is unreasonable and I condemn it at the highest level. America needs to know we will not be deterred by violence. I am thankful for the heroic law enforcement officers who are working feverishly to restore order.”

Governor Laura Kelly said, “Acts of violence or destruction – especially when targeted at law enforcement and members of the press – is unacceptable. Now more than ever, we need to come together and fight this virus – not each other.”

Rep. Jake LaTurner issued the following statement:

“The lawless behavior at the U.S. Capitol is reprehensible and has no place in our country. This is a stain on American history, and I condemn it in the strongest possible terms. The First Amendment guarantees the right of Americans to peacefully assemble, and I will always defend that right. This is un-American and an utter betrayal of that founding principle. This must stop now.”

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt released this statement:

“The lawlessness at the U.S. Capitol today is sickening, shameful, inexcusable and counterproductive. I condemn it in the strongest possible terms. This riot, like others before it over the past year, offends the law and order we fight to preserve every day, and it insults the men and women who fought and died for our Constitution and who serve the rule of law. America resolves even our most profound differences through democratic debate, through judicial processes, and sometimes through genuinely peaceful protest, but never through violence.”