North Michigan News

Over the past 12 months, the U.S. has experienced its share of stress and trauma; the recent Capitol riots have caused Michigan officials to recoil in shock at the lack of civility exhibited, according to reporting from Bridge Michigan.

U.S. Rep. Andy Levin (D-Bloomfield Township), who was at the Capitol on Wednesday when supporters of President Donald Trump invaded over the charge that the election had been stolen from Trump, noticed similarities to his time in Chengdu, China, in 1989.

"But I did not expect as a member of Congress to have people try to violently interrupt the workings of our democracy,” Levin told Bridge Michigan. "It's a super sad day.”

Rep. Andy Levin | AndyLevin.house.gov

Levin, who was doing research in China as a student of the University of Michigan in 1989, remembers seeing Chinese military physically attacking pro-democracy protestors. 

Levin used Rep. Elissa Slotkin’s (D-Holly) office to shelter in place after his office was threatened by a pipe bomb and dangerous rioting. He decried the action of the protestors, saying it was an attack on our democracy. 

“The president of the United States has encouraged his supporters to overrun the U.S. Capitol to disrupt the counting of the Electoral College votes,” Levin told Bridge Michigan. “We're not going to let it happen. We're going to stand here and do our jobs.”

Trump’s claims that the election was stolen and that his supporters should not back down has doubtless spurred on those who were inclined to violence. Representatives from both sides of the aisle were distraught by the rioting.

Rep. Peter Meijer (R-Grand Rapids) called the action “unacceptable” in a tweet.

“Enough. Acknowledge (Joe) Biden as president-elect and end this madness,” Meijer tweeted, according to Bridge Michigan. “Violent rioters laid siege to the nation’s Capitol in an act of insurrection unparalleled in modern times. This is not leadership.”

Generally, the vote that took place on Wednesday is part of a peaceful transition from the current administration to the new one, but it became apparent that the transition from Trump to Biden will be anything but peaceful.