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The Capitol Attack. Terrorists are not defined by race
BY TVISHA MISTRY
“No one can tell me that if it had been a group of Black Lives Matter protestors yesterday that they wouldn’t have been treated very differently than the mob that stormed the Capitol. We all know that’s true – and it’s unacceptable.” US President, Joe Biden (Twitter)
These are some unprecedented times. For the first time in history, a United States President incited a coup. On January 6th, 2021, the Capitol building was breached by armed rioters, who stormed the building; raiding, looting, and trashing everything in their way.
Gaining control of the Capitol, the rioters claimed to be “Trump supporters” expressing their restraint to the Biden administration. To understand the entire picture, let us go back to November 3rd, 2020. On this day, Democratic candidate Joe Biden defeated the incumbent Republican President Donald Trump, winning the 2020 United States presidential election.
During and post ballot, Donald Trump and the Republican party attempted to overturn the election several times, alleging widespread voter fraud. The Trump campaign focused mainly on five swing states; Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Arizona. These were the states that had flipped to Biden after having been won by Trump in 2016.
The Trump campaign took several actions to overturn the results. This included the filing of approximately 60 lawsuits, attempting to nullify election certifications, and void vote casts for Biden in each of the five states. All but one lawsuit was either declined or withdrawn.
However, the prevalent voter fraud rumors led to a large percentage of citizens refusing Biden’s presidential win. Matters escalated further when President Donald Trump announced, “Big protest in D.C. on January 6th. Be there, will be wild!” on December 18th.
Subsequently, on January 6th, a large crowd gathered outside the Capitol. Unable to control the crowd, the officers present, opened the Capitol doors, allowing the mob entrance.
The contrasting protocol and response during the recent Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement by law enforcements’ resulted in a racial controversy. During the BLM protest, the enforcements were dressed in riot gear, with instructions to deploy weapons including tear gas, if necessary. However, the officers present during the recent riot had an absent response to the violent intruders and no drastic measures were taken to stop them.
The rioters were supposedly protected by the constitution, but how are acts of domestic terrorism justified by the constitution of any country. Domestic Terrorism by definition of the FBI is “the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population … in furtherance of political or social objectives.” Does staging a coup not count as an act of terrorism. If so, why weren’t the terrorists treated as such, even after they were seen or arrested?
“I spoke with Jake Angeli, the QAnon guy who got inside the Senate chamber. He said police eventually gave up trying to stop him and other Trump supporters, and let them in. After a while, he said police politely asked him to leave and let him go without arrest”. Tweeted Adrian Morrow, a Washington reporter on January 6th.
Additionally, the contrasting statements by President Donald Trump on the two incidents have made people question whether Trump has inspired long-suppressed racists to blatantly express their Anti-Semitic views.
“Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts.” Trump Tweeted as a response to Black Lives Matter on May 29th, 2020.
Responding to the coupe staged at the Capitol in a statement Trump said, “We love you. You’re very special. Go home”.
Justice is in order. Even if there is a disregard for the hate speech and symbols at the arena; the United States cannot just overlook acts of terrorism based on color. All those who were involved along with individuals who encouraged such terrorism should be prosecuted for their crimes. For no one is above the law; regardless of their gender, color, or race.