![UN rights office ‘deeply troubled’ by attack on US Capitol](https://www.jurist.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/06/IMG_4629.jpg)
In response to Wednesday’s attack on the US Capitol by pro-Trump rioters the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights released a statement Thursday condemning the “deliberate distortion of facts” by American politicians, especially concerning the presidential election and allegations of voter fraud. The statement also voiced support for a “thorough investigation” into the attack that resulted in the deaths of four people.
Thursday’s statement reads in full:
We are deeply troubled by Wednesday’s attack on the US Capitol, which demonstrated clearly the destructive impact of sustained, deliberate distortion of facts, and incitement to violence and hatred by political leaders. Allegations of electoral fraud have been invoked to try to undermine the right to political participation. We are encouraged to see that the process has continued in spite of serious attempts to disrupt it. We call on leaders from across the political spectrum, including the President of the United States, to disavow false and dangerous narratives, and encourage their supporters to do so as well. We note with dismay the serious threats and destruction of property faced by media professionals yesterday. We support calls from many quarters for a thorough investigation into Wednesday’s events.
Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani reiterated the statement during an online press briefing on Friday. She emphasized the need for “the President of the United States and other political leaders to disavow, openly disavow, false and dangerous narratives that are being spread,” and noted that this “kind of inciteful language can be very dangerous.” Shamdasani also addressed the presence of numerous white supremacist symbols such as Confederate flags, anti-semitic symbols, and a noose during Wednesday’s events: “We condemn this display of overtly racist symbols.”