MCPS Offers Support To Students Following Deadly Capitol Riots

ROCKVILLE, MD — Maryland's largest school district said it will provide safe spaces for students to discuss Wednesday's deadly pro-Trump riots and storming of the U.S. Capitol.

In a letter posted on its website, Montgomery County Public Schools underscored the importance of teaching children about "modern civility and respect for our democracy" and condemned the events in Washington, D.C., which killed five people.

"Civic engagement is the foundation of our democracy. MCPS respects and supports the right to demonstrate and peacefully protest," the letter read. "We strongly condemn all attempts to incite violence and will not tolerate acts of hate that counter our shared democratic principles."

In the letter, MCPS also offered a number of resources and encouraged parents to start a dialogue with their children.

RELATED: Rep. Raskin's Family At Capitol When It Was Overrun By Rioters

On Wednesday, thousands of President Trump's supporters descended on the nation's capital in a last-ditch effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. The protest — which coincided with the congressional vote to certify the 2020 presidential election — soon turned violent as Trump supporters pushed past barricades and stormed the Capitol.

The chaos that unfolded in D.C. prompted the city's mayor, Muriel Bowser (D), and Maryland's governor, Larry Hogan (R), to call in the National Guard. Other counties in Maryland — including Montgomery and Prince George's — also deployed dozens of police officers to help law enforcement restore law and order.

Five people died as a result of the mayhem. One woman was fatally shot inside the Capitol, and three other people suffered fatal medical emergencies, D.C.'s police chief said. The fifth person, Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, died from his injuries suffered during the riots.

SEE ALSO:

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• U.S. Capitol Riots: What To Expect In Coming Days
  
• 'Catastrophic Failure' At US Capitol Must Be Investigated: DC Mayor
• Officer Dies From Injuries Suffered During US Capitol Siege