THE US is commemorating the one-year anniversary of the devastating attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

One year ago, rioters assaulted law enforcement officials, destroyed property, and stormed the Capitol; five people died immediately before, during, or after the attack.

What happened in the US on January 6, 2021?

In an effort to disrupt the certification of the 2020 presidential election results, insurrectionists assaulted the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.

The insurrection happened while Congress was gathering to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election. 

While members of Congress and staff were escorted to secure locations or barricaded behind closed doors, rioters pushed past heavily armed Capitol Police officers, smashing windows and vandalizing offices

There were also many people any with violent intentions toward members of Congress and former Vice President Mike Pence for refusing to give in to Former President Donald Trump's attempts to rig the election in his favor. 

Five people were killed, one of which was a Capitol Police officer who was beaten by protesters.

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When and how can I watch the January 6 attack documentary?

This new documentary, titled Preserving Democracy: Pursuing a More Perfect Union, premieres on PBS on the one-year anniversary of the Capitol insurgency on January 6.

It examines the goals and weaknesses of American democracy, as well as what appear to be repeated cycles of racial equality advancement and resistance against those advances forward. 

Actress Tamara Tunie, 62, is the narrator of the two-hour documentary. 

Academics, authors, activists, and former and current government officials are interviewed, such as former senior presidential advisor Valerie Jarrett, former Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Robert Costa, and others. 

Viewers can watch the documentary on Thursday, January 6 on PBS at 9pm.

What have the president and vice-president said about the anniversary of the insurrection?

President Joe Biden has spoken on the attacks made to the US Capitol a year ago, and he accused Trump of being responsible for the mob's conduct, saying that he "has created and spread a web of lies about the 2020 election."

“He has done so because he values power over principle,” he said, “because he sees his own interests as more important than his country’s interests. Because his bruised ego matters more to him 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 battleground state have said: he lost.”

Vice President Kamala Harris also commemorated the sixth anniversary of the attack on the US Capitol. 

On that day, Harris was vice-president-elect, but she was also a senator. Despite the fact that she had left the office when the crowd broke through the gates, she described how her staff was forced to protect themselves.

According to Harris, the day is remembered as one of the darkest days in American history along with the events of 9/11 and Pearl Harbor.

She also spoke about the meaning of democracy. 

“You see, the strength of democracy is the rule of law,” she said. “The strength of democracy is the principle that everybody is to be treated equally, that elections should be free and fair, that corruption should be given no order. 

“The strength of democracy is that it empowers the people. The fragility of democracy is this: if we are not vigilant – if we don’t defend it – democracy will not stand. It will falter. And it will fall.”

January 6, 2021: A timeline of events

On January 6, 2021, a group of rioters stormed the Capitol building in Washington, DC to protest the 2020 presidential election results. Here’s a timeline of events of what occurred that day:

6:00am: A group of supporters for former President Donald Trump show up in Washington, DC to attend a rally for him. Trump had tweeted about the rally a month prior.

11:00am: Trump's rally, "Save American Rally," kicks off. Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr both speak.

11:50am: Trump begins speaking at the rally. He tells his supporters that "we will never give up. We will never concede." He tells his supporters to go to the Capitol building.

1:00pm: Lawmakers gather at the Capitol to count Electoral College votes while protesters gather outside.

1:10pm: Rioters are on the steps of the Capitol building.

1:26pm: The Capitol police evacuate the Library of Congress, Madison Building and Cannon House Office Building. These buildings are across the street from the Capitol.

1:40pm: Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser orders a curfew in the city.

2:11pm: Rioters breach the perimeter of the Capitol building and scale the walls.

2:20pm: The Senate and House are called into recess and the building goes into lockdown.

2:38pm: Trump tweets, "Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country. Stay peaceful!"

3:00pm: Rioters officially break into the Senate chamber. Other rioters break into the offices of members of Congress and the Senate. Property is destroyed along the way. Rioters take photos of themselves on the Senate floor.

3:13pm: Trump tweets again about the situation. "I am asking for everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful. No violence! Remember WE are the Party of Law & Order – respect the Law and our great men and women in Blue. Thank you!"

3:34pm: Rioter Ashli Babbitt is shot by a Capitol police officer as she attempts to climb through the Lobby's doors. She later died from her injuries. Meanwhile, the National Guard is ordered to the Capitol by Trump.

4:00pm: President-elect Joe Biden addresses the nation and calls on Trump to "go on national television now to fulfill his oath and defend the Constitution and demand an end to this siege."

4:17pm: Trump tweets out a video message to his supporters. "I know your pain, I know you're hurt," he said. He said the election "was stolen from us" but asked the rioters to "go home now."

6:00pm: Washington, DC goes under a 12-hour lockdown.

7:00pm: Trump is banned from Facebook and his Twitter account is suspended.

8:00pm: Former Vice President Mike Pence calls the Senate back into session.

9:00pm: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi calls the House back into session.

11:00pm: The House and Senate resume their joint session.

January 7, 3:42am: Joe Biden is officially declared as the next president of the United States.

Aftermath: As of January 2022, more than 700 people have been charged with alleged crimes from the riot, according to CBS News.

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