when was january 6th insurrection

The January 6th United States Capitol attack, often called the "January 6th insurrection," took place on January 6, 2021. This event saw supporters of then-President Donald Trump storm the Capitol during Congress's certification of Joe Biden's 2020 election win.

Event Timeline

Thousands gathered after Trump's "Save America" rally near the White House at noon. Rioters breached barriers, entered the building, and clashed with police for hours, delaying proceedings until evening. Five people died in connection with the chaos, including a rioter shot by police and a Capitol officer later from injuries.

Planning and Context

Militia groups like Proud Boys and Oath Keepers planned involvement weeks ahead, with documents like "1776 Returns" calling to "storm" key sites. Leaders coordinated via encrypted channels on January 5. Trump repeated election fraud claims in his speech, urging the crowd to "fight like hell".

Differing Viewpoints

• Pro-insurrection label : Media and Democrats call it an armed attempt to overturn the election, citing weapons, pipe bombs, and over 1,400 arrests/charges.

• Opposing views : Some conservatives term it a "protest" or "riot," not insurrection, noting no firearms convictions among rioters and FBI reports of no centralized plot.

• Recent discourse (2025) : With Trump's reelection, allies push "hostage" narratives for jailed participants; Democrats mark anniversaries to preserve the record.

Ongoing Impact

As of January 2026, trials continue, with recent anniversary coverage noting Trump's pardon pledges. The event reshaped security, politics, and debates on political violence.

TL;DR : January 6, 2021—a mob disrupted election certification amid election denialism; views split on "insurrection" vs. "riot." Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.