No matter how hard top republicans attempt to downplay its’ significance, this is what they had to say in the immediate aftermath of the failed coup d’état that was organized by trump and his subordinates for January 6, 2021.
“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.”
– Mike Pence
“We gather today due to a selfish man’s injured pride and the outrage of his supporters whom he has deliberately misinformed for the past two months and stirred to action this very morning. What happened here today was an insurrection, incited by the President of the United States.”
– Mitt Romney
There’s no question, none, that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day.”
“The people who stormed this building believed they were acting on the wishes and instructions of their president, and having that belief was a foreseeable consequence of the growing crescendo of false statements, conspiracy theories, and reckless hyperbole which the defeated president kept shouting into the largest megaphone on planet Earth.”
– Mitch McConnell
“The violence, destruction and chaos we saw earlier was unacceptable, undemocratic and un-American…
The President bears responsibility for Wednesday’s attack on Congress by mob rioters. He should have immediately denounced the mob when he saw what was unfolding. These facts require immediate action by President Trump. Accept his share of responsibility, quell the brewing unrest and ensure that President-Elect Biden is able to successfully begin his term.”
– Kevin McCarthy
Nearly all have tried to walk back their initial reactions, but to no avail. The internet remembers. Also, let’s be crystal clear about one thing. This wasn’t merely a failed coup. It was a failed white supremacist coup I.E. the underlying premise of this attempt was to stop the vote certification from states that Biden won with the help of minority (Black and Latino) voters.
The trump-supporting participants of this coup – from elected/appointed officials to private citizens – were overwhelmingly white with multiple ties to white nationalist organizations. And even though there were republican candidates who won in these same states in the same election, it was their collective belief (The Big Lie) that the votes cast for President from heavily-minority districts were not valid.
When they challenged votes in Michigan, they didn’t challenge in districts he won that were primarily white, even if the candidate percentages were the same. They only challenged in places like Wayne County; a place with a large percentage of minority voters. That same story played out in Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Georgia. The intent was clear. White votes valid, minority votes invalid.
Yes, the January 6 Insurrection was horrific and doesn’t bode well for the health of our democracy. But as we prepare to remember it (please not commemorate or celebrate), we need to remember the totality of what happened and why we can’t be silent about anyone who participated or supported it:
- This attack was an attempted coup by the former President of the United States and his allies in government.
- This attack was an attack by republicans on our democratic institutions and on the Constitution itself.
- This attack was fueled by whites who sought to overturn and nullify the votes of minorities who had rejected their demagogue.
- This attack, and the legislative attacks in its’ aftermath, are meant solely to stop Black and Latinos from any further influence in Presidential politics.
If you had something to do with this insurrection, I wish you a long life in federal prison.
If you silently support the actions of these bad actors because of ‘Big Lie’ voter fraud concerns, I know where your heart lies and it’s nowhere near mine.
Oh yeah… Don’t forget to read up on the growing number of republicans who have actually been arrested for voter fraud.