By The Scene staff
St. Louis Community College Chancellor Jeff Pittman has released a statement regarding the siege of the U.S. Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump, calling the mob action “reprehensible.”
“Certainly, I never thought I’d see something like this in my lifetime,” he stated.
Thousands of people marched to the capitol on Wednesday after a Trump rally, and dozens forced their way into the building. They were protesting the congressional counting of Electoral College votes from the November presidential election, which was won by former Vice President Joe Biden.
Trump supporters beat police officers, terrorized members of Congress, ransacked offices, vandalized the building and stole artifacts. Five fatalities included a police officer killed in the line of duty, a rioter shot by police and three people who died due to medical emergencies.
Since that time, the FBI has arrested dozens of rioters from all over the country. The U.S. House of Representatives introduced an article of impeachment against Trump on Monday for inciting an insurrection.
Pittman released the following statement on Thursday:
“The peaceful transfer of power is something that few of us ever consider. We assume that after an election, the president-elect and vice president-elect are sworn in on Jan. 20, then four years later, the process repeats itself. This nearly 250-year-old process has become routine and accepted by following the Constitution.
“What we witnessed on Wednesday, Jan. 6, was not routine and not acceptable. Certainly, I never thought I’d see something like this in my lifetime. St. Louis Community College condemns the violent disruption of a normally peaceful ceremony of our governmental process. We acknowledge the hurt and disgust caused by yesterday’s reprehensible and unlawful actions.
“Last summer, those protesting racial inequality were met with rubber bullets, tear gas and militarized weaponry. We saw none of that yesterday as the violent mob roamed around and inside the U.S. Capitol building, desecrating and stealing property and posting their unlawful deeds on social media.
“As this nation grapples with race, the differences were jarring, and we are right in naming this injustice and voice our continued effort to work towards changing the obvious double standards.
“For 59 years, the College has demonstrated its commitment and responsibility as the premiere hub for education, workforce development and a beacon for the community to safely debate and exchange ideas. We lead from our Core Values, which include Respect for All and Integrity. Our commitment and responsibility to the St. Louis region has been non-partisan.
“There’s no way to ignore what is happening. We’ve seen and heard constant coverage on television, radio and social media. At times, it is difficult to set boundaries and minimize exposure to stressful political images or coverage. If you are feeling overwhelmed or need someone to talk to, please visit stlcc.edu/counseling for a list of mental health resources offered at STLCC and in the surrounding community.
“Post-pandemic, I am looking forward to a time when we can come together in a peaceful and constructive manner – even when we do not agree.”