Raleigh, NC – A Raleigh woman shares the moment when she, and hundreds of other North Carolina people, witnessed rioters who breached the US Capitol earlier this week.
Donna Williams, chairman of the Wake County Republican Party, claims that supporters of President Donald Trump were not responsible for the attack.
She shared her experiences in a letter she emailed to other members of the party. She said she and hundreds of other Wake County Republicans had gone to DC to show support for the President and thank him for his service.
“To make it end as it was… it was heartbreaking,” described Williams.
She traveled with hundreds of other Republicans to participate in Trump’s March to Save America rally.
“It was such a prayerful and patriotic time. There were many different speakers,” said Williams.
Then the event turned violent when rioters broke into the Capitol, locking the building.
In her letter, Williams wrote, “I don’t believe patriotic Republicans started the riots. I have personally observed what appeared to be professional agitators inciting violence from the crowd.”
“I don’t know 100% because I don’t know every person out there,” she said Saturday.
There is no proof that anyone has been paid to participate.
Deb Newton, a lawyer and Republican, blames President Trump for urging some of his protesters to march to the Capitol in protest at the Electoral College’s vote count.
“It was clearly incitement. It was shocking,” she said.
Newton said Williams’s letter did not specify who should be held responsible for the infringement.
“Whether you’re a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, or non-party at all… every American should refrain from that activity,” she added.
In the letter to members, Williams said that in order to heal, it is important to divert attention from what is happening nationally and focus on Wake County.
