By Craig Anderson

WASHINGTON — By Lisa McCulley’s description, Wednesday’s early gathering near the White House was partially a rally but more of a protest.

“I would say it was about 70 to 75% of a protest against a fraudulent election and about 25% of a rally for President (Donald) Trump,” the Stand Up Delaware founder said, as she traveled home to Middletown in the early afternoon prior to protesters storming the Capitol.

Just before 3 p.m., Sam Chick, a former Republican candidate for the Delaware House of Representatives and chairman of the Delaware Young Republicans organization, estimated that hundreds of thousands of people had gathered.
That observation came as he received a 6 p.m. curfew notification from the city, as some protesters entered the Capitol building.

According to the Associated Press, protesters fought past police and breached the building, shouting and waving Trump and American flags as they marched through the halls. One person was reported shot at the Capitol, according to a person familiar with the situation. At least one explosive device was found but law enforcement said it did not pose a threat.

As the chaos of demonstrators swarming the Capitol continued, Mr. Chick said via text message that “thousands of people” were “on and around the Capitol. Protesters have taken over the inauguration seating.”

Added Mr. Chick in the early evening, “It’s baffling attending a peaceful protest all day long, then coming back to the hotel and seeing the news reporting anarchy and violence so sensationally.

“Hundreds of thousands of people peacefully protested today for our country and for free and fair elections.”

Delaware Republican Party chairwoman Jane Brady, who was not in attendance and instead at the GOP national committee’s winter meeting, talked about the afternoon.

“I think it is remarkable that the Capitol security officers were not able to prevent the intrusion into the Capitol by protesters. I believe the majority of the people there are peacefully protesting, but for those who choose to be violent and destructive there should be consequences,” she said.

“We should not sanction any violence on our institutions. That the business of our government was disrupted by protesters is shocking and unacceptable.”

The AP earlier placed the number of attendees at several thousand people.

“I’ve been here for rallies, and it’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before. People are angry about what went on in the election,” Ms. McCulley said. “I was surprised to see such a wide ethnic variety and saw flags from states nationwide and people from Texas, California, Ohio, all over the country.

“(President Trump) asked us to come. I voted for the president and stand up against this massive election fraud that has occurred.

“You want your voice to be heard. What we expect is the (U.S. Constitution) to be followed, wherever that may take us.”

The AP reported that President Trump told the protesters, who had lined up before sunrise to get a prime position to hear him, “We will not let them silence your voices.”

The crowd cheered when he said, “We will stop the steal.” That’s been the rallying cry of protests against the election results, according to the AP.

Ms. Brady said that five buses left the First State to attend the proceedings and believed a church sent a bus, as well.

Mr. Chick said he was about six rows back from the stage where the president spoke.

“When I stood up and turned around, it was flags and people as far as I could see. There was no open green space,” he said.