Fact check: What's true about the Capitol riot, from antifa to BLM to Chuck Norris

McKenzie Sadeghi, USA TODAY

February 23, 2021 at 2:00 PM·5 min read

Corrections and clarifications: The Associated Press, citing unidentified sources, reported in January that Officer Brian Sicknick may have been hit in the head by a fire extinguisher. But no official cause of death has been released, and U.S. Capitol Police have said only that he died “due to injuries sustained while on-duty.”

In the wake of pro-Trump supporters storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, false claims surrounding the event have emerged on social media. The USA TODAY Fact Check team is dedicated to verifying claims and fighting misinformation. Here's a roundup of recent fact-checks related to the Capitol riot:

On images and videos

Fact check: San Francisco pro-Trump rally photo passed off as DC protest image

A viral image claiming to show a caravan of Trump supporters heading to Washington on Jan. 6 is false. The photo is of a a pro-Trump truck rally from October in San Francisco. Published Jan. 6.

Fact check: Images falsely claim to show this week's pro-Trump demonstrations

Images claiming to show pro-Trump protests in Washington, D.C., are actually photos from 2018 March for Our Lives rally and 2017 Women's March. Published Jan. 6.

Fact check: No, Chuck Norris wasn't at the riot at the U.S. Capitol

Martial artist and actor Chuck Norris was not at the riot at the U.S. Capitol. His manager confirmed to USA TODAY that the man seen in a photo who resembles Norris, is not actually him. Published Jan. 13.

Fact check: Video shows Trump family in tent before Jan. 6 rally

A video claiming to show President Donald Trump and members of his family celebrating amid the Capitol riot is false. The video was recorded before Trump's speech. Published Jan. 12.

Fact check: Demonstrators erected a cross at Michigan Capitol, not US Capitol

Demonstrators erected a cross in front of the Michigan Capitol in Lansing, not the U.S. Capitol, as claimed by social media users. Published Jan. 7.

Fact check: Ocasio-Cortez lost no shoes. A fake tweet claimed they were stolen in riot

Screenshots claiming to show that U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted that Capitol rioters stole her shoes are false. Ocasio Cortez's office confirmed to USA TODAY that no shoes were stolen during the attack. Published Jan. 15.

Fact check: Image of Lauren Boebert at rally is from 2019, unrelated to U.S. Capitol riot

An image claiming to show Rep. Lauren Boebert with rioters before a tour of the Capitol on Jan. 5 is false. The photo is from a rally at the Colorado Capitol in December 2019. Published Jan. 16.

In this Jan. 6, 2021 file photo rioting supporters of President Donald Trump climb the west wall of the the U.S. Capitol in Washington.

On predictions

Fact check: NPR posted story early, updated live amid Capitol riot

Claims that NPR posted a story about rioters in the U.S. Capitol hours before the attack took place are missing context. The story was a live feed, first posted at 9:33 a.m., and updated throughout the day. Published Jan. 9.

Fact check: Image of 'Simpsons' character doctored to mimic Capitol riot participant

An image of a purported character from "The Simpsons" dressed in fur, a horned hat, painted face and tattoos has been altered to falsely claim that the show predicted the Capitol riot ahead of time. Published Jan. 12.

On antifa

Fact check: False claim of facial recognition of antifa members during U.S. Capitol riot

Claims that members of antifa were identified among rioters at the U.S. Capitol by a facial recognition company are false. The facial recognition technology firm publicly refuted the claims. Published Jan. 7.

Fact check: Face-painted Capitol trespasser in horns is a known QAnon supporter

The shirtless, face-painted man who was pictured in social media images of the Jan. 6 Capitol building breach is not affiliated with anti-fascist-or anti-racism movements. Published Jan. 7.

Capitol police officers in riot gear push back demonstrators who try to break a door of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington.

On BLM protest comparisons

Fact check: Joe Biden has condemned protest-related violence from the left and the right

It's false to claim President-elect Joe Biden condemned violence on Jan. 6 but didn't condemn violent protests by Black Lives Matter or antifa last summer. Published Jan. 7.

Fact check: Viral images compare handling of Black Lives Matter protests and Capitol riot

Images comparing law enforcement's handling of the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests to the Capitol riot are missing context. An image used in the claim shows the National Guard at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial after it was vandalized, not at the U.S. Capitol. Published Jan. 8.

Fact check: Meme inaccurately portrays police action at New York BLM protest

A meme that compares an image of a Trump supporter being walked down the Capitol steps to a photo of BLM protester Martin Gugino, which it describes as an "old man bystander who had his head kicked in by police," is partly false. Gugino was pushed backward by police and fell. Published Jan. 13.

Fact check: Quotes from Democratic leaders about riots, unrest taken out of context

Claims that Democratic leaders applied a double standard to Black Lives Matter protests and supporters of Trump who breached the Capitol are missing context. Published Jan. 15.

Fact check: BLM protesters in Louisville protected a lone police officer

The claim that Black Lives Matter protesters in Louisville protected a cop during protests and a U.S. Capitol Police officer died due to injuries sustained while on-duty is true. Published Jan. 19.

On arrests

Fact check: Social media falsely claims Vice President Mike Pence was arrested

Vice President Mike Pence was not arrested on Jan. 6. He was removed from the Senate chamber to a secure location and was on Twitter in the interim. Published Jan. 7.

Fact check: False claim about pardons for those involved in Capitol riot

The "WH Office of Pardon Attorney" is not assisting Trump in preparing pardons for the rioters involved with violence at the U.S. Capitol. The Department of Justice confirmed that the post is fake. Published Jan. 13.

Fact check: Man in viral airport video was asked to deplane for refusal to wear mask

A viral video claiming to show a man screaming about being placed on the no-fly list due to the riot at the Capitol is false. The man was asked to leave the flight for violating a mask requirement. Published Jan. 12.

On deaths

Fact check: Alabama man at Capitol riot died from a heart attack

A man at the Capitol riot did not die from a heart attack after accidentally tasing himself in the testicles. Reports state that the man had high blood pressure and died after he fell to the sidewalk outside the Capitol. published Jan. 13.

On damage and theft

Fact check: Pelosi's conference room laptop was not taken by Special Forces during Capitol riot

A laptop was stolen from the office of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi during the Capitol riot, however, the laptop was only used for presentations and it was not taken by Special Forces. Published Jan. 13.

Fact check: Photo shows U.S. Capitol cleanup after rioters left American flag among debris

Posts claiming that Capitol workers threw away an American flag as they prepared for the transition of power are missing context. The image shows Capitol employees cleaning up after the building was damaged and littered by a mob, not as preparation for Biden's inauguration. Published Feb. 3.

On Brett Kavanaugh protest comparisons

Fact check: Post comparing Capitol riot to 2018 Kavanaugh protests lacks context

Images equating the U.S. Capitol riot to 2018 demonstrations against the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court are missing context. The photos are authentic but leave out key differences between the demonstrations. Published Feb. 3

Fact check: Viral photo shows 2011 Wisconsin protests, not 2018 Kavanaugh protests at U.S. Capitol

A viral image depicting Democrats storming the U.S. Capitol to protest Kavanaugh's Supreme Court confirmation is false. The photo shows protesters at the Wisconsin State Capitol in 2011. Published Feb. 3.

Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here.

Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: The truth about Capitol riot, antifa, Chuck Norris

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