Exactly one year ago, they flocked to Washington in their thousands on January 6, 2021 to protest a presidential election they still believe to be rigged. The Capitol has been taken by storm, the country bruised.
A year later, and as President Joe Biden spoke in a speech Thursday of an "armed insurgency," three protesters present that day recount to AFP the day that shocked the world.
"Euphoria"
"It was an amazing day," recalls Republican Party member Samson Racioppi, 40. On January 6, the man took charge of chartering a series of buses from his state of Massachusetts to the capital, Washington.
A sea of people gathered there in freezing cold, waving "Trump 2020" flags to denounce the outcome of the presidential election that saw the Republican billionaire lose. The president presents himself on a platform. The crowd is galvanized.
"I remember that feeling of euphoria, seeing all around us these people who finally had something to do," Jim Wood, who came straight from New Hampshire, told AFP.
Before Donald Trump finishes speaking, this 60-year-old makes his way and follows a procession on the way to the American Congress where, to their chagrin, elected officials are certifying the victory of Joe Biden.
Thousands of demonstrators follow suit. In a few moments, a crowd gathered in front of the white dome of the Capitol.
" The anarchy "
"And then all of a sudden you hear screams, 'here we go, here we go,'" exclaims Glen Montfalcone, from Massachusetts. "This is where the anarchy began. "
“People were pushing, pushing, pushing shouting, 'Come on! “, He said. "And so that's what we did, we went for it. "
Have they returned to the Capitol? All three swear no. But to say the opposite is also to risk prison.
A shirtless man with buffalo horns strolling through the Capitol, a protester killed by the police ... In amazement, the whole world follows the invasion of the US Congress live.
These images, Jim Wood said to discover them the next day, at breakfast. “Demonization! ", He lambasted, assuring that the vast majority of the demonstrators remained outside the building.
During the following months, two accounts of this day of January 6 clash.
The police officers on that day, elected Democrats and even some Republicans qualify these acts as "terrorists".
The FBI at the door
Police operations are launched across the country. Glen Montfalcone sees several FBI agents arrive at his door, his friends are arrested.
In his law school, fellow students of Samson Racioppi are mobilizing for his dismissal. Without success.
In Washington, a parliamentary committee is set up to investigate the possibility that the Trump camp's maneuvers may have amounted to an attempted coup.
A coup ? Demonstrators on Capitol Hill speak out against the expression. On the contrary, they keep the memory of an exhilarating day, which gives goose bumps, "something that I will tell my grandchildren", promises Samson Racioppi.
Still convinced, like the majority of Republican voters that the 2020 election was stolen - despite countless evidence to the contrary - he says he is ready to defend the next poll at all costs.
We see it as a war. We will launch a series of battles and cause as much damage as possible to the left and those who support the tyranny.
Samson racioppi
Until returning to the Capitol? " Of course. "