The storming of the Capitol today by rioters is another deep mark on our nation’s imperfect history on democracy, racial justice and equality, and tolerance, and a strong reminder of the work that still needs to be done.
On a day when our elected officials were engaged in a largely ceremonial act to begin the peaceful transfer of power of a new president, the unruly mob that disrupted the proceedings to make baseless claims of voter fraud threatened our democracy. And the whole world was watching.
The Route 1 corridor is home to many who walk the Capitol halls on a regular basis, whether as security guards, staffers, journalists or advocates, and it pained us to see their workplace seized under violence.
The corridor is also home to vibrant and diverse communities in Maryland and D.C. and today we witnessed grim reminders of our country’s racist and anti-semitic past which sadly still linger.
Today we witnessed the echoes of this through the Confederate flags, swastikas and white supremacist symbols that were prominently displayed by rioters during their Capitol takeover — a painful reminder that these aren’t just something of the past, but continue into the present.
We also witnessed the double standards played out as these violent thugs were given special treatment by law enforcement when compared to peaceful Black Lives Matter protesters.
Like many of you, today’s events leave us concerned about what happens next. Despite what he tells his supporters, the sitting president will leave office in two weeks. But the anger he provoked and affirmed during his four years in office will not quickly dissipate.
It is on the rest of us, then, to patiently counter these untruths, to rebuild the civic institutions whose failure led to this moment and to push ahead together with the hard work of democracy while embracing racial justice and equality, and tolerance for all people.
Well stated. Thank you!
…what happened today is maddening, on so many levels, as you have described. If these people ever slink back into their confederate shadows, we will unfortunately still be left with their carnage.
Yes, exactly! You write to our hearts and thoughts here.
I didn’t follow the protests very carefully but I think Trump is taking the blame for the EPA, space, and everything in between. We will soldier on.
Are you really so ridiculous as to lump “law enforcement” into one monolithic entity? Are the Capitol Police every police agency in the US? Did they really “treat them more gently” when one person was shot and killed? Was anyone shot and killed at any of the protests/riots this summer? Why make this statement? If you want to point out the difference, why not be more positive and say “the Captiol Police set the standard for how protesters should be treated.” I swear to God, it is exactly that kind of divisive, us-vs-them rhetoric that is tearing the world apart. Take the high road for once instead of getting into the mud with these people.