As many know, on Jan. 6, the U.S. Capitol Building was attacked by domestic terrorists, many of whom identify as supporters of President Donald Trump. This attack was premeditated and encouraged by the president himself, who spread false claims of election fraud and encouraged his followers to come to the Capitol while the electoral votes were being verified by Congress.
The attack resulted in five deaths, including both rioters and law enforcement officers. The aftermath of the attack resulted in calls for Trump’s impeachment, his ban from Twitter for inciting violence and many arrests of those who are believed to have taken part in the terrorist attack.
As we process this attack, it is important that these rioters are called what they are: domestic terrorists. They are not just Trump supporters. They are not American people who were within their rights of freedom of speech and protest. They are not American patriots. They are domestic terrorists who planned a violent assault in order to stop the fundamental democracy of this country. It is important that we as a nation do not excuse their actions or sugarcoat their motives.
Many participants of the attack as well as their supporters claim that their actions were patriotic and born out of love for this country. However, this is a completely outrageous claim. The American people pride themselves on democracy. Promoting American democracy is patriotic; inhibiting democratic processes is the exact opposite of patriotic. Vandalizing one of the nation’s most historic and important buildings is not patriotic. If these terrorists have any ounce of patriotism or love for America in them, it is completely overshadowed by their blind loyalty to a corrupt president.
Going forward, I hope that the incoming presidential administration will be safe from this same violence. With Donald Trump out of office, I hope the hatred, bigotry and racism that were tolerated and encouraged under his administration are seen once again as they should be–intolerable. Though we are far from solving most of the nation’s issues, a new era of leadership can give us hope that we are taking a step in the right direction.
