Global Political and Social Awareness - The Assault on the US Capitol

The assault on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 is one of the scariest and darkest days in American history. Fed by months of scandalous and spurious conspiracy theories about the end result of the 2020 Presidential Election by Donald Trump and his most loyal foot soldiers, thousands of Trump supporters armed with violent intentions, dissent and rage stormed the US Capitol, destroying entrances, windows and doors in an attempt to disrupt a joint session of Democrats and Republicans as they certified the election results of the 2020 election. It was chaired by Vice-President Mike Pence who led the procedure with careful attention to the Constitution. Despite that, Republicans in the joint session who believe in Trump's brainless and dangerous conspiracy theories about the election contested the procedure fruitlessly. Of course, it is legal to contest anything but the reason for it was baseless and a gigantic waste of time and taxpayer money. Instead of committing themselves to the sacred oath of protecting the US Constitution, and the democratic institutions that preserve the unity of the United States of America, they joined Trump in denouncing and threatening the democracy that keeps the United States peaceful and together. This is completely unacceptable and vicious. To understand how this all came about, we have to understand the events that led up to the horrid event on January 6, 2021.

Since his election campaign run for the presidency in 2016, Trump has spread toxic, revolting and mind-numbing conspiracy theories time and time again. His attacks on Hispanics and the alleged threats of massive immigrant and asylum caravans approaching the southern border to Mexico, instilled fears and racial hatred into the hearts of millions of Americans who support him. This unfortunately led to the devastating and bloody shooting of a Wal Mart in El Paso, Texas. The gunman believed many of these illegals would shop there which is why he chose the location as a target for his domestic terrorist plot. 

Another infamous example of Trump using fear, racism and hatred to get what he wants was the Charlottesville riots of 2017. Emboldened by Trump's hatred towards minorities, people of color and different cultural backgrounds, white supremacists of countless groups descended on Virginia and wreaked untold havoc on the town that saw riots, violence, the unbridled spewing of corrosive division and animosity and the death of a woman after a car being driven by a white supremacist rams into a crowd of protestors. This happened because these men and women believe they have support from the president. 

The attacks on black people in different states and cities across the entire union are also key examples of what is happening to the United States. The racism that is being condoned and supported by Donald Trump transcends even government agencies including the police. Black people have long been the target of many white racists but the atrocious behavior of Trump gives racists fuel and even legitimacy to carry out unwarranted and unprovoked attacks on these people. I don't have to tell you the names of the victims who lost their lives in the hands of law enforcement. You already know them. The entire world does! Yet it will continue. 

I believe Trump's legacy is now forever sealed with the insurrection in Washington D.C.. He isn't the only person to blame in all this. In the last four years, too many conservatives and Republicans have allowed Trump's banter and rhetoric go unchecked. Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Congressmen Nunez, Jordan and others are notable examples of political office holders who'd rather caress the president than uphold the oath and law to the country. All these examples and evidence underlines the utter and unmistakable failure of leadership from the oval office. These radical terrorist Trump supporters, already consumed with complete rage and contempt in the last four years of lies and baseless conspiracy theories congregated in front of a stage close to the US Capitol. There, Trump and his family and loyal allies continued to spread falsehoods that the election was stolen from them, that there was voting fraud in many states due to people allegedly moving to the state to vote and returning back where they came from, counting machines that didn't count the ballots properly, undocumented migrants casting their ballots, and so on and so forth. Not a single shred of proof was handed in. Absolutely nothing! They went to the courts, filed lawsuits, only to be turned away because of considerable lack of proof. Despite one embarrassing loss after another, Trump continued to claim the election was rigged. His most loyal and trusted supporters were enraged and wanted an outlet. Finally, Trump announced that his army should take back what is theirs and he would even be with them. Guess what? Trump and his family got into their vehicles and drove off believing they achieved something with their stupidity. After that, a mob of Trump supporters with confederate and Gadsden flags, made their move and attacked the US Capitol, fearing that something had to be done to stop the unconstitutional attack on their beloved president. This was their last chance. They breached the fencing, windows and doors and committing treasonous violence and destruction on the sacred building. In all, five people died, including a brave police officer from New Jersey. Offices of congressional members were ransacked, computers and documents stolen. The videos and pictures of the insurrection will always be burned into our memories. Completely disgusting and an outright attack on American democracy. The gorgeous historical landmark in Washington D.C. was blemished and defiled. 

Questions of proper security were immediately asked. Many people were astounded by the fact that there was hardly any security to protect senators and representatives from the manic madmen. It is shocking to learn that certain members of law enforcement from Capitol Police let these rioters in the building. Some even took selfies with these violent insurgents! Others simply walked away from a door so it could be demolished by these hooligans. The Sargent-in-Arms resigned and so did a high member of the Capitol police force. These events opened the doors to something sad and astonishing. If these rioters were black, what do you think would have happened? You'd see a strong and stiff wall of swat members in full riot gear, armed with mace, batons, stun guns, rifles with rubber bullets among other things, ready to pounce and assault them. Instead, the vast majority of rioters where white in this case and they saw much less resistance than if they would have been black. What do you think this says? I guess you could figure that out for yourself.

We are now in the aftermath and consequences stage. Many rioters have been arrested and charged with multiple federal offences. Even a sitting delegate from West Virginia was charged with crimes and taken away. The man who occupied Nancy Pelosi's office and rested his foot on her desk is an self-described white nationalist has been arrested. It was easy for law enforcement to find them. The US Capitol is adorned with surveillance cameras, protestors took pictures of themselves and selfies. Some of them even identified themselves on camera! Because of that, they were easily identified and taken away in handcuffs. 

There is a lot to be taken away from this. I know for certain that Trumpism will never die. Even if Trump ends up in prison for what he has done to America, his loyal supporters on the other side of the wall will preserve his legacy. For years before Trump was elected in 2016, millions of people dreamed of having someone who could relate to their relentless and vile issues. They stayed behind closed doors, waiting for the right moment. When they found Trump, they were ecstatic. Their messiah has finally arrived to save them. What Trump has done can't be reversed. He has blood in his hands from the children who died in detention centers in southern Texas along the Mexican border, the men and women who died in a hail of bullets from shooters, and now the attack on the US Capitol. History was written.