People began to arrive at a church in northwest Philadelphia about an hour before the House committee was due to hold its first prime-time hearing.
They were there to attend a community watch event. This was one of about 90 events organized by liberal activists. The aim was to encourage people to come together to view the rare, televised evening hearing.
Melanie Brennan, who lives near Mount Airy, said that she expected to be shocked and didn't want her to be shocked at home.
Brennan attended the watch event along with Chauncey Harris, a friend. He was optimistic and stated that former President Donald Trump had not faced the consequences for too long. He said, before the hearing began, "I hope they'll be in a position to tell people the truth so that we can just get rid of our personal opinions. That's what I want to see happen. "I hope that we can achieve justice in this country."
Harris and Brennan were among the people who attended Summit Presbyterian Church to view the hearing live. Members of the House select committee placed all the blame for the violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6, squarely on Harris.
Chris Rabb, Democratic State Representative from Philadelphia, spoke in advance of the hearing and asked how many people would tune in.
"It is probable that most hardworking Americans won't be paying attention. He said, "And I don't make that a judgment. I just say it as an observation." "And I believe that people aren't paying attention because there are many people struggling to pay the bills.
He called it a moment of collective action.
Bennie Thompson called the hearing to order before Tim Brown, one the organizers of the event, presided over a satirical awards presentation. The awards, which were not flattering, were given to Republican politicians.
Brown stated, "The Golden Boot award is given to the most degrading and servile act of bootlicking by any political toadie."
Three Republican senators were nominated for the award aEUR", which is really not an award aEUR",: Mitt Romney of Utah and Lindsey Graham from South Carolina, as well as Ted Cruz of Texas.
Brown, Philadelphia Neighborhood Networks' organizing director, asked for cheers from the public to choose the politician to receive the award. Cruz won easily. Cruz won easily. A woman stood in front of the room holding a single, golden-sprayed boot and accepted the trophy. Brown answered a question about the award ceremony and said, "I believe it's important that you add humor to dark situations." In some cases, humor can be a great way to convey the message. More than 40 people sat in metal folding chairs as they watched the livestream. They occasionally had side conversations with neighbors or clapped to indicate a point. This was until Wyoming Republican Liz Cheney spoke, who was vice-chair of the select committee.
She addressed Republicans who had boycotted the proceedings, and called them illegitimate. The crowd roared so loudly it was difficult to hear Cheney's next words. She said, "Tonight, I say this to all my Republican colleagues who are fighting for the indefensible." "There will be a day when Donald Trump will be gone, but your dishonorwill not."
Raymond Torres also lives in Mount Airy, and was about to leave when the committee stopped for a short recess.
He said, "I only remember the Watergate hearings where Sen. Goldwater confronted Nixon. I said to him that you should resign." "The Republican senators haven't really confronted Trump, and said that he must stop lying. "At least Liz Cheney is willing to do this."
Torres stated that while he believed many people were tuning in, he was worried about those who weren't.
He said, "It was very disappointing that Fox News refused coverage of this, and has acted like a mouthpiece [for] the] Republican Party, when it is a country which needs to learn its past."
Fox News carried the televised evening hearings on other news networks, but Fox News kept its prime-time programming.
Tim Brown, the organizer of the hearing, was also concerned about who would be watching it. He claimed that some people had told him directly that they would not watch the hearing if they could't all be together.
He answered, "Trauma." People were shocked by some of the statements. One woman approached me and said that she couldn't believe she was witnessing this alone. It was too frightening. It was horrendous to see those people breaking into the Capitol and cops fighting for their life.
