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trained to respond to mass demonstrations, was stationed on the west side of the Capitol on January 6 when the mob broke through the perimeter of metal bike racks. She was struck by a Trump rioter and knocked unconscious. After coming to, Officer Edwards did not ask to be evacuated. Instead, she resumed duty immediately on the Capitol steps, and attempted to hold the line on the Lower West Terrace. She was sprayed in the eyes with a noxious chemical irritant—possibly pepper spray, possibly something else. She was tear-gassed. And yet she continued. Listen to her describe the scene: When I fell behind that line and I saw, I can just remember my—my breath catching in my throat, because what I saw was just a war scene. It was something like I’d seen out of the movies. I couldn’t believe my eyes. There were officers on the ground. You know, they were bleeding. They were throwing up.
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