The Capitol Police force employs approximately 2,300 sworn officers and civilians who are all charged with protecting Congress: members, employees, visitors, and property. On Wednesday, they were overrun.

Since its completion, the Capitol has become internationally recognized as a profound symbol of its people and its government. This legislative nerve center was a magnet for those seeking to voice their grievances and usher change. It was a familiar and frequent setting for Vietnam War and civil rights protests, human rights protests, and myriad other issues of concern expressed through lawful protest. But the Capitol’s significance on the world’s stage, as well as it being a centralized complex for the nation’s lawmakers, made it attractive for those seeking to do the country or its legislators harm.