JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – People in the Jacksonville community are reacting to what happened at the Capitol, some sharing their thoughts on how to move forward.
News4Jax spoke with a variety of people of different backgrounds and political beliefs Thursday, and the one thing many of them had in common is that they never expected to witness what happened in Washington.
“When I first saw it, I first couldn’t believe what was going on because every other one that Trump supporters have been putting out there have been pretty peaceful until, you know, you have other groups come out,” said Gary, a Jacksonville resident.
Cameras captured the chaos, showing lawmakers’ offices ransacked and Trump supporters on the Senate floor.
Odille Campos learned about what happened after landing on a flight to Jacksonville.
“It was really sad. I am not -- I don’t really get involved in politics, but I just, I’m not a fan of just the whole chaotic, it was just chaotic. And then it resulted in deaths, so that’s really sad and unfortunate,” Campos said.
Before protestors breached the Capitol building, Dr. David Jaffee, a sociology professor at the University of North Florida, said he watched the rally of Trump supporters protesting the election results.
“Given the nature of his movement, given the nature of the crowd, I wasn’t surprised at what happened,” Jaffee said. “I was surprised at the ease at which they were able to break through the barricades and enter the Capitol.”
As the nation moves forward, Jaffee said certain things need to be considered.
“I think we have to look at the conditions that gave rise to the movement and what mobilized it. And I think you have to look at both economic conditions and the party system because those are the institutions in which political actions are often articulated and ultimately enacted,” he said.
Jaffee said part of path forward includes rethinking policy.
News4Jax asked people what they think needs to be done moving forward, and their answers varied, but several said violence is not the answer.