Washington, DC - The images coming in from the United State Capitol Building today are heartbreaking to every American. Lawlessness is not how Americans affect change in our great country.

Today’s events demonstrate once again just how critical our law enforcement officers are to public safety and to ensuring the peaceful operation of our governments at every level. Without the protection afforded to us by our men and women in blue, our society cannot function.

I compliment the dedication and commitment of the U.S. Capitol Police, the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Park Police as well as other nearby agencies who are responding to the unfolding events on Capitol Hill.

We also call on President Trump to forcefully urge these demonstrators to stop their unlawful activity, to stand down, and to disperse. The actions of some of these demonstrators are endangering our elected officials, Congressional staff, ordinary citizens, and the law enforcement officers on the scene.

We urge everyone involved to reject the use of violence and to obey the orders of law enforcement officers to ensure that these events are brought to a swift and peaceable end.

The Fraternal Order of Police is the largest law enforcement labor organization in the United States, with more than 356,000 members.