we need to take america to try to bring people together trying to deal with people who've been left behind me. ah, ah, hello again, i'm pete. adobe is just gone 14 hours gmc, that's 9 am local in washington. the u. s. capitalists where we're going live for special coverage this hour because the u. s. is reflecting on how it's democracy was threatened exactly a year ago when hundreds of donald trump supporters stormed the u. s. capital building, waiting for an address from the us president joe biden. and his vice president. com la harris any moment. now, the event started when mr. trump held

a rally near the white house, 2 quotes stop the steel of the 2020 election for people died on the day of the riot . and about 140 police officers were injured. we have correspondence covering the story in a moment, goes to alan fisher to look at the wider political implications of the anniversary 1st. mike, hannah joins us from the capital building. might just take us through what we can expect in the next hour or so, please. well, president biden, accompanied by his vice president, camilla harris has just arrived here on the hill in the capital. he responded to a shouted question as he walked past a group of reporters saying that i am praying that we'll never have another day, like the day we had this, obviously in reference to the reason why he's here to commemorate that january the 6th occasion. when supporters of donald trump stormed the same capital, now president biden is going to be talking within minutes from the statutory hall.

busy which was one of the areas that was taken over by demonstrators in the wake of a pro trump rally just down the road here in washington dc. now in the course of the day, we also going to hear from the house majority speaker, nancy pelosi, along with the senate majority leader. they'll also be some statements from members of congress remembering that day a year ago. but this is also marked by the lack of republican participation in this commemorate action. there are a few that one is talking almost single digits of republicans who will be taking part. the vast majority of basically boy cutting this event. and this just goes to show peter, exactly how divided this country has become even more so in the years since january, the 6th, with the majority of republicans that appears back king former president, trump in his assertion about election fraud, a false assertion,

and also backing him in his attempts to whitewash exactly what happened a year ago. and as far as the debate goes on, that's happening now. and everyone's agreed mike, that the, the country has got to move forward the, the body politic has got to move forward. but yet, despite that, the old fashioned, or the old fashioned kind, gentle republican party, if you will, pre donald trump, even people who support that version of the republican part are saying the process on capitol hill that we've seen over the last 12 months, shouldn't even be taking place because they're saying it start, it didn't start off as being a part as an process, but it's ending very much unashamedly as a part is, am process. how do people like nancy pelosi react to that accusation? well, to put it bluntly with deep anger and deep outrage, the fact that this type of statement could be made this type of opinion could be held at that republican attempt that has become louder and louder in recent weeks

to paint this commemoration of these tragic events year ago, as some kind of democratic, a partisan an event. now this is something that is deeply angered. the speaker of the house is deeply angered. very many people in congress and beyond. but this is once again, a consequence of a former precedent who continues to use his position to press false claims of election fraud, claims that other republicans pick upon and which continues to divide the body politic within the united states. i must just add one things. well, peter, is that people like to speak of the house. nancy pelosi are also going to use this event, the proceedings to day to indicate how the broader attack on democracy is underway by donald trump. and his supporters, including, for example voting rights. when it comes to how politicians reacted to the events of a year ago, mike and how they're reacting to it to day 12 months on was it kind of

a wake up call to them because they had to face up to how donald trump could inculcate an atmosphere that led to a kind of a domino effect that generated real genuine in your face, present destructive, literally killing anger and american politicians there in those marble corridors in those offices. you know, littered with takeaway food boxes. we've all seen the west wing and coffee machines and, and going to seminars. and then when they stopping politicians, they go on to become consultants and in lots of money. but that was real visceral politics at its most basic it was indeed, and it was stirred by a real visceral politician at his most basic. let's not forget that this sequence of events was started by a speech by donald trump,

to his supporters near the capital. they then marched at this particular venue. but let's also remember the fact that individuals like vice president pence was it missed by the demonstrators. by a matter of seconds. it was only a very quick thinking security guard who asked of him out of a different direction. avoiding confronting the demonstrators who at that stage, according to records, were shouting, let's hang pence because pence was going to go on and verify the election, or preside over the verification of the election. so this was not just at that particular stage, something about republicans, be democrats. it was something more baskerville, as you say, and it is something that was aimed very clearly directly at the nature of democracy itself. for that then president tramp to stand up and cast out on election figures was utterly unprecedented. but to go further and to urge, according to many observers,

his supporters to march on the capital to press forward. those claims is even more unprecedented. but the damage was done because that gives the open window to the fact that if people do not like election results, then they can simply oppose them. you now have a scenario that has grown very large over the past year. that there are those within the united states who are using that very democratic process to subvert democracy itself. we've seen that in the voting rights actions that are happening in many republican areas. the attempt to reduce the ability of people to vote by, for example, restricting mail in floating by gerrymandering election districts to diminish the amount of democratic support in any particular area. all of this is happening in wake off january, the 6th that happened before, but it's been given a new energy. it has been given a new form of development by what has happened over the past year, particularly by those claims of election fraud, which have struck

a chord among it would appear. the majority of republicans, the damage to the democratic system. okay. my going to as well as what my gonna correspond, lighter inside the capital building. there you can see the us vice president coma harris flanked by the u. s. president joe biden, where they were and what they were doing when our democracy came under assault. dates that occupy, not only a place on our calendars, but a place in our collective memory. december 7th, 1941. september 11th, 2001. and january 6th, 2021. on that day, i was not only vice president elect. i was also united states senator and i was here at the capital that morning at a classified hearing with fellow members of the senate intelligence committee.

hours later, the gates of the capital are breached. i had left, but my thoughts immediately turned not only to my colleagues, but to my staff, who had been forced to seek refuge in our office, converting filing cabinets into barricades. what the extremists who roamed these halls target, it was not only the lives of elected leaders. what they sought to degrade and destroy was not only a building hallowed as it is. what they were assaulting were the institutions, the values, the ideals that generations of americans have marched

picketed and shed blood to establish and defend. on january 6th, we all saw what our nation would look like. if the forces who seek to dismantle our democracy are successful. the lawlessness, the violence, the chaos. what was at stake then and now is the right to have our future decided the way the constitution for scribes it by we the people all the people. we cannot let our future be decided by those bent on silencing our

voices, overturning our votes and peddling lies, and miss information by some radical faction that may be newly resurgent, but whose roots run old and deep. when i meet with young people, they often ask about the state of our democracy about january 6th. and what i tell them is january 6 reflects the dual nature of democracy. it's fragility and its strength is see the strength of democracy is the rule of law. the strength of democracy is the principle that every one should be treated equally. that elections should be free and fair. that corruption should be given no

quarter. the strength of democracy is that it empowers the people and the fragility of democracy as this. that if we are not vigilant, if we do not defend it, democracy simply will not stand. it will falter and fail the violin assault that took place here. the very fact of how close we came to an election overturned that reflects the fragility of democracy. yet, the resolve i saw in our elected leaders, when i returned to the senate chamber that night, they are resolved not to yield, but to certify the election. their loyalty not to party or person,

but to the constitution of the united states that reflects its strength. and so, of course, as the heroism of the capital police, the d. c, metropolitan police department, the national guard and other law enforcement officers, were answered the call that day. including those who later succumbed to wounds, both visible and invisible. our thoughts are with all of the families who have lost a loved one. in i wonder how well january 6 come to be remembered in the years ahead. will it be remembered as a moment that accelerated the unraveling of the oldest, greatest democracy in the world?

or a moment when we decided to secure and strengthen our democracy for generations to come. the american spirit is being tested. the answer to whether we will meet that test resides where it always has resided in our country with you. the people and the work ahead will not be easy here in this very building, a decision will be made about whether we uphold the right to vote and ensure free and fair elections. let's be clear. we must pass voting rights bills that are now before the senate. and the american people must also do something war. we cannot sit on the sidelines. we must

unite in defense of our democracy in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice insure, domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and to our prosperity and posterity. that is the preamble of the constitution that president biden, and i swear an oath, to uphold and defend. and that is the enduring promise of the united states of america. my fellow americans, it is my honor to introduce a public servant, but the character and fortitude to meet this moment. a leader whose

life's work has been moving our nation to ward that more perfect union president joe biden. and a most pros, a fellow americans to state the obvious one year ago to day in this sacred place, democracy was attacked simply attacked the will, the people was under saul the constitution. our constitution faced the gravest of threads out numbered in the face of the brutal attack, the captain police, the d. c, metropolitan police department, the national guard,

and other brave law enforcement officials saved the rule of law or democracy. hell, we, the people endured. we the people prevail for the 1st time in our history, a president had not just lost an election. he tried to prevent the peaceful transfer of power as a violent mob reached the capital. but they failed. they fail. oh miss de remembrance rooms make sure that such attack never never happens again. i'm speaking to you to day from statuary hall and united states capital. this is where the house of representatives met for 50 years in the decades leading up to the civil war. this is on this floor for a young congress with illinois,

abraham lincoln sat a desk 191 above him, above us. over that door made it into the rotunda. is a sculpture depicting cleo. the mused of history in her hands, an open book, in which she records the events taking place in this chamber below. claire stood watch over this hall, one year ago to day. as she has for more than 200 years, she recorded what took place. the real history, the real facts, the real truth, the facts and the truth of vice president harris just shared that you and i and the whole world saw with our own eyes. the bible tells us that we shall know the truth and the truth shall make us free. we shall know the truth.

oh, here is the gods truth. about january 6th, 2021. close your eyes. go back to that day. what do you see? writers rampaging waving for the 1st time inside this capital confederate flag that symbolized the cause to destroy america, to rip us apart. even during the civil war that never ever happened. but it happened here in 2021. what else do you see? a mob breaking windows, kicking indoors, breaching the capital american flags on poles menus, as weapons as spears. fires, fingers being thrown at the heads of police officers, a crowd, the professors,

their love for law enforcement assaulted. those police officers dragged them, sprayed them, stamped on them over a $140.00 police officer were injured. we all heard the police officers who were there that day testify to what happened. one officer called and quote, a mid, mid evil battle. and that he was more afraid that day than he was fighting the war in iraq. they repeatedly asked since that day, how dare anyone, anyone diminished but little or deny the hell they were put through. we saw with our own eyes rider's menace these halls, threatened the life of the speaker of the house, literally erecting gallows to hang the vice president of the united states of america. what do we not see?

we didn't see a former president who had jest rallied the mob to attack sitting in the private dining room of the oval office in the white house, watching it on television. and doing nothing for hours, as place for a soul, lives at risk. nations capital under siege. this wasn't a group tourist. this was an armed insurrection. there were looking to uphold the will the people there were looking to deny the will the people there look and uphold their world again, whole, a free and fair election? they were looking to overturn one there were looking to save a cause america. there were looking to subvert the constitution. this is an amount be bogged down in the past. is about making sure the past is in buried.

that's the only way forward. that's a great nations do. they don't bury the truth. they face up to it. sound like i personally, but that's the truth. they face up to it. we are a great nation. my fellow americans, in life there's truth. and tragically, there are lies, lies, conceived and spread for profit and power. we must be absolutely clear about what is true and what is a lie. and here's the truth. the former president, united states of america, has created and spread a web of lies. but the 2001 election he's done so because he values power over principal because he sees his own interest is more important than his

country's interest and america's interest. and because his bruised ego matters more to ham than our democracy or our constitution, he can't accept. he lost even though that's what 93 united states senators, his own attorney general, his own vice president, governors and state officials in every battle round state. have all say he lost, that's what 81000000 of you did as you voted for a new way forward. he is don't not present. in american history, the history of this country has ever ever done. he refused it except the results of the election. and the will of american people while some courageous men and women in the republican party are standing against it, trying to up told a principle that party to many others are transforming that party into something

else. they seem no longer to want to be the party. the party of lincoln eisenhower, reagan, the bushes or whatever my other disagreements are with republicans to support the role of law and not the role of a single man. i will always seek to work together with them to find shared solutions where it possible is and we have a shared believe in democracy than anything is possible anything. and so at this moment we must decide what kind of nation are we going to be? are we going to be a nation that accept political violence as a norm? are we going to be a nation or allow part or selection officials to overturn the legally expressed rule of the people are going to be a nation that lives not by the light of the truth or the shadow of lives.

we cannot allow ourselves to be that kind of nation. the way forward is to recognize the truth. the live by the big lie being told by the former president and many republicans who fear his wrath is that the insurrection of this country actually took place on election day november 3, 3rd, 2020. think about that. is that what you thought that were you thought when you voted that day, taking part in an insurrection? is that what you thought you were doing? or did you think you're carrying out your highest duty as a citizen and voting? former president, supporters are trying to rewrite history. they want you to see election day as the day of insurrection mariah that took place on january. it's 6th, as

a true expression. the will of people. can you think of a more twisted way to look at this country to look at america? i cannot. here's the truth. the election of 2020 was the greatest demonstration democracy in the history of this country. more of you voted not election than of ever voted in all of american history. over a 150000000 americans went to the polls and voted that day in a pandemic summit, grace rick great risk of their lives. they should be plotted, not attacked right now in state after state. new laws are being written, not to protect the vote, but to deny it. not only to suppress the vote but of subvert it, not to strengthen or protect our democracy. because the former president lost

instead of looking at the election results from 2020 in saying they need new ideas or better ideas to win more votes. the former president and a supporters have decided the only way for them to win is to suppress your vote. and subvert our elections. it's wrong. it's on democratic and frankly, it's an american 2nd big lie been told by the former president supporters that results in a lex them 2020, can't be trusted. the truth is that no election, no election in american history has been more closely scrutinized, while more carefully counted every legal challenge. questioning the results in every court in this country it could have been may, was made,

and was rejected off, rejected by republican appointed judges, including judges appointed by the former president himself from state court to the united states. supreme court recounts round or taken his state after state, georgia, georgia. can i re it's results 3 times with one recount by han, phony part as an odd, as were undertaken long after the election and several states. none change the results in some of them. the irony is the margin of victory grew slightly so let's speak plainly about what happened in 2020, even before the 1st ballad was cast. a former president was preemptively so in doubt about the election results. he bills lie over months

was based on the facts. he was just looking for an excuse a pretext to cover for the truth. he's not just a former president, he's a defeated former president defeated by a margin over 7000000 of your votes. in a full and free and fair election. there are simply 0 proof election results for an accurate in fact, in every venue where evidence had to be produced. and those to tell the truth had to be taken. the former president failed to make his case. as think about the former president, his supporters have never been able to explain how they accept as accurate the other election results that took place. on november 3rd, elections for governor united states, senate house of representatives, elections,

which they close the gap in the house, a chow was none of that treasure. his name was 1st. then we went down the line governor shoes, house representatives. somehow those results are actually on the same bower, but the presidential race was flawed. and on the same ballot the same day cast by the same voters. the only difference former president didn't lose those races. he just the last, the one that was his own fiery, the 3rd big live being told by a former president, supporters said the mob who sought to impose their will through violence. i will.