Co-Equal is compiling an oral history of the attempted violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, to preserve firsthand accounts when they’re still fresh in the memories of those with direct experience of that terrible day. These accounts should be memorialized and are important for the public and Congress to consider in evaluating what transpired and determining appropriate responses.
If you work at the Capitol complex and would like to add your story about your experience during the January events, please contact Co-Equal at info@co-equal.org.
Account from the House floor
A congressional staff member recounts evacuation from the House floor, sheltering, and returning to the Capitol.
Account from a Capitol office
A congressional staff member recounts barricading himself inside a room of the Capitol for many hours and hearing shots fired.
Account from the House floor
A congressional staff member recounts House floor activity as the Capitol was breached, sheltering, and returning to the Capitol.
Account from a House Office
A congressional staff member recounts spending many hours on January 6 in lockdown largely alone in a House office without clear information about the magnitude and proximity of the threats.
Account from the House Floor
A congressional staff member describes the lockdown of the House floor, evacuation, return to the Capitol, and the impact of the attack in its aftermath.
Account from the House Floor
A congressional staff member describes escalating concerns on the House floor, the opening of escape hoods, hearing people attempting to break in, evacuation, and return to the Capitol.
Account from a Parent
A congressional staff member describes being unable to reach her children at daycare for many hours during the attack on the Capitol.
Account from a Capitol Office
A congressional staff member describes seeing people climbing on the inaugural platform from the window of her Capitol office, hearing people inside the building trying to break into her suite, being evacuated by the police, and returning to scenes of destruction at the Capitol.
Account from Off-Campus
A congressional staff member recounts his experiences of January 6 when working from home, and the toll that day has taken on staff regardless of whether they were on the Capitol grounds during the attack.
Account from Two Congressional Staff Members
Two congressional staff members who sheltered together throughout January 6 in the office where they both work provide a joint account of how that day unfolded.
Account from a House Office
A congressional staff member recalls sheltering in place for many hours in a House office building on January 6, worrying whether it would be safe for her to leave because of how she looks, and days later smelling lingering tear gas and seeing broken glass when she walked through the Capitol building.
Account from a Food Service Employee
A congressional food service employee recounts how January 6 started as a normal day but became scary when she encountered an injured police officer in the hallway and had to evacuate, and how she spent hours and hours sheltering in place with coworkers where television news and occasional reports from police were their main sources of updates.
Account from a House Office
A congressional staff member recounts his day in the Capitol and House office building watching the terrifying events that transpired on January 6, 2021.
Account from A Congressional Staff Member
A congressional staff member recalls the traumatic events of January 6 barricaded in the Capitol as rioters stormed the building.
Account from A Congressional Staff Member
A congressional staff recounts her day navigating her boss to the Capitol and a safe location on January 6th.
