The images from the Capitol Wednesday are everywhere by this point, and they are shocking as the seat of our democracy was overtaken by protesters who turned violent.

Images show thousands of protestors clashing with police on Capitol Hill as officers tried to use barricades to keep them back.

It all started after President Donald Trump's rally earlier in the day when he encouraged supporters to march to the Capitol to protest the November election results.

At the time, a joint session of the House and Senate was underway to count the Electoral College votes to officially declare Joe Biden president-elect.

The Trump supporters scaled the building, climbed walls to get pass officers and security. They broke windows to get inside and vandalized offices.

Meanwhile, lawmakers inside sheltered in place, with some of them evacuating their chambers while Vice President Mike Pence was rushed away to a secret secure location.

Police were overwhelmed. In one occasion, protesters chased an officer after they trespassed.

The National Guard was called in to restore order, and the D.C. mayor set a 6 p.m. curfew, which the rioters mostly ignored.

Four people were killed, and 14 police officers were hurt. Biden called the events an insurrection.

The Capitol did reopen after about three and a half hours with the electoral votes finally being certified, confirming that Biden will be the next president of the United States.