Good Afternoon Amy,
I am making this journal entry a day late because Jan 6th displayed the ugly consequence of the post-truth climate that has been a decades-long strategy of radical-right, with the complacency of the media and centrist politicians.
The U.S. Capitol descended into chaos and violence Wednesday, Jan 6th as hundreds of pro-Trump rioters swarmed the building, leaving four people dead, scores injured (included 56 officers), millions in damage, vandalism of historic items and forcing the Senate to evacuate and the Vice President Mike to be ushered to safety.
The mob broke through barricades, forced Congress to evacuate and abruptly suspend a ceremonial event affirming that President-elect Joe Biden won the November election. Police officers drew guns as rioters tried to break down doors into the House chamber. Pence was seen rushing out of the Senate chamber as throngs of Trump's rioters surrounded the Capitol. One woman was fatally shot, and three other people died in "medical emergencies."
The media was flooded with images of protesters skirmishing with police officers, and multiple reports of violence inside the Capitol as some rioters broke windows, battered down doors and postured in the Senate chamber. Images from the clashes were rife with disturbing hate symbols: a photo of a noose that had been hung on the west side of the Capitol, protesters waving Confederate flags or using white power gestures. There were disturbing images of police officers posing for selfies with rioters.
Improvised explosive devices were found on the Capitol grounds, several law enforcement officials said. Officers were in the process of destroying the devices, and it was not clear whether they were functional. At least one was made of a small section of galvanized pipe. Five weapons were recovered from the complex.
Former President George W. Bush condemned the violence in a statement and indirectly criticized Trump and his supporters. "It is a sickening and heartbreaking sight. This is how election results are disputed in a banana republic — not our democratic republic. I am appalled by the reckless behavior of some political leaders since the election and by the lack of respect shown today for our institutions, our traditions, and our law enforcement, inflamed by falsehoods and false hopes."
Former President Barack Obama excoriated Trump in a statement and denounced the violence, calling it "a moment of great dishonor and shame for our nation. Right now, Republican leaders have a choice made clear in the desecrated chambers of democracy. They can continue down this road and keep stoking the raging fires, or they can choose reality and take the first steps toward extinguishing the flames. They can choose America."
Former President Jimmy Carter said, "This is a national tragedy and is not who we are as a nation," while Bill Clinton tweeted, "The match was lit by Donald Trump and his most ardent enablers, including many in Congress, to overturn the results of an election he lost."
Vice President Pence called it "a dark day in the history of the United States Capitol. To those who wreaked havoc in our Capitol today: You did not win. Violence never wins. Freedom wins. And this is still the people's house.”
Dan Eberhart, a prominent donor to Trump and the Republican Party, sharply criticized the protests and the president. "If President Trump wants to have any kind of political future within the Republican Party, he needs to condemn the violence at the Capitol and stop claiming the election was stolen. The desecration of the Capitol is not going to be forgotten.
Schumer, who is poised to succeed McConnell as majority leader, sharply criticized the protests but squarely placed the blame on Trump: "Make no mistake. Today's events did not happen spontaneously. This mob was President Trump's doing — incited by his words, his lies. - his responsibility, his everlasting shame."
The chaos erupted after Trump spoke to a large crowd in front of the White House. He angrily vowed never to concede to Biden and baselessly asserted that the election results were fraudulent.
Interviews with rioters clarified Trump’s lies caused this to happen. One rioter said, "I just felt compelled to be here, because it seems like our republic is slipping away from us," Bjorklund said. He added that there were "mountains of evidence of fraud" and detailed conspiracy theories about voting machines using software made by Dominion Voting Systems. "We don't believe they're honest, true voters," Theresa Reilly said "There's a lot of cheating going on, and I think everybody knows that, including Democrats." Her husband said that even without "doing too much research," it’s clear "something's up" with the November election results.