As We Know It: Our Democracy is Under Attack

Supporters of President Trump breached the Capitol building and were met with teargas deployed by authorities, Jan 6, 2020, Washington D.C. (Photo by Kenny Holston for The New York Times, Image used with express written permission of Mr.Holston)

By: Jeromel Dela Rosa Lara, WHRB News

The United States Capitol was attacked on Wednesday, January 6, 2021. A mob incited by President Trump and political allies through repeatedly debunked and false claims of election fraud in a morning rally in Washington D.C. stormed inside Congress just as lawmakers were certifying the electoral college votes.

The violence that ensued caused the deaths of 5 people and left a shakened nation and world.

WHRB News reporter Jeromel Dela Rosa Lara, ‘23, interviewed six photojournalists who covered the violent insurrection that took place.

Without the journalists who put their bodies on the line taking pictures, video, and writing reports of what happened, we would be left in the dark unaware of the danger democracy is in.

Listen to the One Hour Piece Here:

First aired on Sunday, January 17, 2021 at 1:30 p.m. EST

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Conversations with the photojournalists

Thomas P. Costello

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Visual Journalist for the Asbury Park Press, part of the USA Today Network

Our conversation:

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As posted by Thomas P. Costello on Twitter: Trump supporters take over the area outside the Capitol building Wednesday afternoon @asburyparkpress @USATODAY (Photo by Thomas P. Costello for the Asbury Park Press, part of the USA Today Network, Image used with express written permission of Mr. Costello)

To see more of Mr. Costello’s work, check out https://www.app.com/staff/2646276001/thomas-p-costello/

https://twitter.com/ThomasPCostello @ThomasPCostello


Kenny Holston

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Photojournalist for The New York Times

Our conversation:

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A tug-of-war ensued between supporters of President Trump and authorities as the Trump supporters pulled down metal barricades surrounding the Capitol in an effort to storm the building after being verbally motivated to do so by President Trump at a rally just a few hours prior, Jan 6, 2020, Washington D.C. (Photo by Kenny Holston for The New York Times, Image used with express written permission of Mr. Holston)

Supporters of President Trump breached the Capitol building and were met with teargas deployed by authorities, Jan 6, 2020, Washington D.C. (Photo by Kenny Holston for The New York Times, Image used with express written permission of Mr. Holston)

To see more of Mr. Holston work, check out
http://kennyholston.squarespace.com/
https://www.instagram.com/kenny_holston/ Instagram @Kenny_Holston
https://twitter.com/KennyHolston Twitter @KennyHolston


Stephanie Keith

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News and editorial photographer working for Getty Images, Reuters, and The New York Times

Our conversation:

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Supporters of US President Donald Trump protest in front of the US Capitol Building in Washington. (Photo by Stephanie Keith for Reuters, Image used with express written permission of Ms. Keith)

To see more of Ms. Keith’s work, check out
https://www.stephaniekeith.com/#1
https://widerimage.reuters.com/photographer/stephanie-keith
https://www.instagram.com/steffikeith/ Instagram @steffikeith


Leah Millis

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Senior photographer for Reuters based in Washington D.C.

Our conversation:

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An explosion caused by a police munition at the Capitol Building, January 6. Thousands of Trump supporters stormed the seat of Congress last Wednesday, forcing lawmakers who were certifying Democratic President-elect Joe Biden's election victory into hiding in a harrowing assault on the heart of American democracy that left five dead. (Photo by Leah Millis for Reuters, Image used with express written permission of Ms. Millis)

To see more of Ms. Millis’s work, check out
http://leahmillis.com/
https://widerimage.reuters.com/photographer/leah-millis
https://www.instagram.com/leahmillis/ Instagram @leahmillis
https://twitter.com/LeahMillis Twitter @LeahMillis


Shannon Stapleton

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Staff photographer for Reuters based in New York City

Our conversation:

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Pro-Trump protesters clash with Capitol police during a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 U.S. presidential election results by the U.S. Congress, at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, U.S, January 6, 2021. (Photo by Shannon Stapleton for Reuters, Image used with express written permission of Mr. Stapleton)

Rescue workers carry fatally injured New York City Fire Department Chaplain, Father Mychal Judge, from one of the World Trade Center towers in New York City, early September 11, 2001. Both towers were hit by planes crashing into the buildings and collapsed a short time later. (Photo by Shannon Stapleton for Reuters, Image used with express written permission of Mr. Stapleton)

To see more of Mr. Stapleton’s work, check out
http://shannonstapleton.com/
https://widerimage.reuters.com/photographer/shannon-stapleton
https://www.instagram.com/zanderavery/ Instagram @zanderavery


Tom Williams

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Staff photographer for CQ Roll Call

Our conversation:

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UNITED STATES - JANUARY 6: Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., comforts Rep. Susan Wild, D-Pa., while taking cover as rioters disrupt the joint session of Congress to certify the Electoral College vote on Wednesday, January 6, 2021. (Photo by Tom Williams for CQ Roll Call, Image used with express written permission of Mr. Williams)

UNITED STATES - JANUARY 6: Security barricades the door of the House chamber as rioters try to break into the joint session of Congress certifying the Electoral College vote on Wednesday, January 6, 2021. (Photo by Tom Williams for CQ Roll Call, Image used with express written permission of Mr. Williams)

To see more of Mr. Williams’s work, check out
https://www.rollcall.com/author/tom-williams/
https://twitter.com/pennstatetom Twitter @pennstatetom


Jeromel Dela Rosa Lara, ‘23, is a reporter for WHRB News. Follow him on Twitter @jeromellara. Tune in to "As We Know It" on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. ET for more stories like this one.