Bogota.
the experienced photojournalist Jim Lo Scalzo, Who has worked in more than 60 countries, never imagined capturing with his lens what he himself has called the “siege of the American Capitol,” a fact that reminded him, to a lesser extent, of looting in Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein.
El Scalzo, photographer for the EPA / EFE agency a United States, Captured with his camera front-line images during the shocking assault of Donald Trump supporters in the ‘ Chapters in Washington last wednesday.
The photographer had arrived at the site in the morning to register the certification of the election of president Joe Biden when he heard loud noises on the outskirts of the building, which although open to the public, is widely guarded.
“I remember thinking‘ Oh my god, this is really happening, they are entering the building ’,” El Scalzo explained in an interview with EFE after acknowledging that in almost 30 years of professional career he only once felt the same.
“It’s funny, that reminded me of when I was in Iraq and the Americans entered (…) the Iraqis began to plunder and destroy everything related to port, Obvious in this (the Chapters) It was much smaller because I think people were surprised to have had access, ”he said.
Although he was not afraid, the photojournalist acknowledged that there were moments of real tension inside the Chapters when hundreds of people entered the building breaking doors and windows, and running down the hallways to the main hall.
Finally, El Scalzo considered that what has happened in the Chapters is the result of Trump’s “American carnage,” which has used that expression since the beginning of his term to say that the United States has fallen victim to the crime and drugs.
The assault on Chapters and his subsequent recovery left a balance of five dead, among them a policeman.
The photographs of El Scalzo were distributed last Wednesday by the graphic services of EPA (European Press Agency) and EFE and were published in hundreds of media around the world.