Fact check: Protesters do not ‘storm’ state houses in Georgia and Kansas

As hundreds of supporters of US President Donald Trump stormed the US capital on January 6, some social media users said protesters were also storming state houses in Georgia and Kansas. Trump supporters did protest in both places, but the events were peaceful.

Reuters fact check. REUTERS

A post has been retweeted more than 5,500 times here , reads: “JUST INSIDE – # The capital buildings of Georgia and # Kansas were stormed by protesters”. Posts on Facebook with the claim are visible here, here, here.

As reported by Reuters here, supporters of President Donald Trump held rallies at state houses across the United States on January 6, disrupting some official functions but not storming any buildings (here).

GEORGIA

Franka Young, a spokeswoman for the Georgia State Patrol Public Information Office, told Reuters in an email that a rally by about 60 protesters was “peaceful” and “there were no incidents.”

A few (protesters) visitors entered the Capitol and went through the normal security procedures to enter the building, ‘she said.

Reuters reported here that a large court complex and two other government buildings in Atlanta were closed as a precautionary measure during the protests.

According to spokesman Walter Jones, the staff of Foreign Secretary Brad Raffensperger left their offices early.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported here that some protesters outside the Capitol building were carrying ‘assault weapons’. Reuters could not independently confirm this.

Footage by Alyssa Pointer here , photographer of the AJC, shows Chester Doles, founder of American Patriots USA and former KKK leader (here) inside the Capitol building.

Images of the small protest have been documented here, here, by local media.

KANSAS

On January 6, pro-Trump protesters entered the Kansas State House in Topeka and gathered inside the first floor of the Capitol roundabout, but they remained peaceful, as reported here and here.

Lieutenant Terry Golightley, public information officer for the Kansas Capitol police, told Reuters in an email that the protest was scheduled and that the organizer had obtained a permit. Members of the group entered a security checkpoint and distributed the permit at the appointed time, he added.

The scene was documented by local reporters here , here , here .

VERDICT

Untrue. Protesters did not storm the state houses in Kansas and Georgia.

This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. Read more about our work to actually check social media posts.

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