Pam Shumway is a citizen who believed her voice needed to be heard, so she, along with
members of the Republican Women of Columbia County decided to go to Washington D.C on Jan. 6 to show their support for President Trump.
The “Trump March” began at the Ellipse where President Trump gave his speech.
“Trump’s speech was just a speech. He never incited anyone. He said go peacefully, let yourself be heard, said Pam Shumway.
To those in attendance, Trump’s speech gave them a sense of pride for their country. They would never dream of attacking it, Shumway said in an interview.
Those with the march continued on their way to the Capitol following the former president’s
speech. The police along the way stood and watched the crowd go by. Almost to the Capitol, Shumway decided to ask a policeman how he thought the group was doing.
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“Everyone is doing a great job,” he said.
When Shumway reached the Capitol, she noticed some men climbing up the walls. Flags were being handed up to those already on top. The people began to cheer and sing with happiness.
“It was like a county fair. It was purposeful and fun,” said Shumway. “People were all over the lawns, the behavior was perfect.”
Those in attendance were not being disruptive, she added. The flags were waving, and the people were singing. Shumway remembers looking out over Pennsylvania Avenue and seeing the million of smiling marchers in attendance.
Shumway shortly heard a man running down the Capitol steps.
“He was shouting: ‘They shot the first bullet, they killed her,’” said Shumway.
Shumway trailed the man. The man was explaining to a journalist that a group had been let into the Capitol, and a woman had been shot by a guard.
“The lady was protesting that she had a right to know what was going on. The two guards were very polite, the other was not,” Shumway recalled.
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The arguing continued between the woman and the guard until it escalated.
When on her way back to the hotel, Shumway said she got a call from her husband.
“My husband called and told me I needed to get out of there now. I had no idea what he was talking about,” she said.
The news had begun airing that Trump mobsters were raiding and causing damage to the Capitol, Shumway continued.
“I did not hear anything about the violence. That was on a whole other side,” said Shumway.
The violence occurred on the west side of the Capitol. The Trump marchers on the east side remained peaceful, she said.
Sarah Beth Battles is a contributor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at producers@theaugustapress.com
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