The Attack on the Capitol is the Epitome of White Privilege in America

On Wednesday, January 6th, we all bore witness to a series of tragic events that took place at our nation’s Capitol. We saw what months of falsehoods, misinformation, and lies – all spewed by Donald Trump and his inner circle – amounted to as the U.S. Capitol was attacked and overrun by domestic terrorists in support of Trump. On a day in which the Electoral College votes were to be counted and mark the official end to a long and chaotic presidential election cycle, our nation was, instead, having to deal with these heinous acts carried out upon our nation’s Capitol. From these events, there are many topics and issues that one can pick at and further discuss, but the issue that is most prevalent and urgent for the student body at Saint Anselm College to understand is white privilege. 

In short, the events that took place at the Capitol are a perfect illustration of white privilege at its finest. 

First, think back to just this past summer as you witnessed millions of Americans protesting horrific acts of police brutality that had taken the lives of Black Americans such as George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Jacob Blake, and countless others. Almost always at these protests, protestors were met with law enforcement officers lined in tactical gear and armed to the teeth with riot shields, batons, canisters of tear gas, and rifles filled with rubber bullets or live rounds. It appeared as if law enforcement officers were ready to battle soldiers of a foreign nation invading our borders, not fellow Americans. Videos and photos that emerged from these protests made it clear, however, that law enforcement did not hesitate to consider these protestors as the enemy and viciously attack them at any opportunity they were given. 

Now, think about what we all saw take place at the U.S. Capitol this past Wednesday. We saw a group of domestic terrorists storm and raid the Capitol with little to no resistance from law enforcement. These people were able to march onto the Capitol’s steps, smash windows and force open the main doors, mozy their way through the halls of the building, invade and completely trash the offices of members of Congress, and casually pose for pictures after having overtaken the U.S. Senate chamber, all without having barely met any resistance from law enforcement. And even after having done all these atrocious acts, these same people were then able to peacefully walk out of the Capitol, steal some property as they were leaving, and then carry on with their days as if nothing had happened. 

The major contrast between these two instances is that those who were protesting against police brutality this past summer largely consisted of and were led by Black Americans, while those who attacked the U.S. Capitol largely consisted of White Americans. This stark contrast in law enforcement response is indicative of what Black, Brown, and other communities of color have been saying over and over again…. we are not viewed the same, nor treated the same in this country as white people are. White people are given certain privileges and luxuries solely based on the color of their skin that are not afforded to the Black, Brown, and other communities of color. 

It is now important to understand, however, what acknowledging the existence of white privilege does and does not truly entail. Acknowledging the existence of white privilege does not attempt to villainize white people and/or point to them as the root of all evil. It does not mean that white people should feel guilty or feel ashamed for who they are. It does not mean that society is attempting to dismiss all the work that has been done by white people in the present or in the past. It does not establish the notion that white people have never struggled in their lives or that, because of their privilege, they should not be proud of their accomplishments in life. Rather, the point in acknowledging the existence of white privilege is to understand that you have not had to face any difficulties in how you live your life and/or how you are viewed by society because of your skin color. Acknowledging the existence of white privilege means acknowledging the fact that communities of color are burdened with specific issues that white people have the luxury to never face and be concerned about. 

It is because of white privilege that white people never have to face the hardship of being considered a danger to society until proven otherwise. It is because of white privilege that white people do not have to deal with the burden of overcoming negative stereotypes that are placed upon members of their own community. And most importantly, it is because of white privilege that white people do not have to protest and march in the streets in order to stop police from killing them and other members of their communities. 

Instead, it is because of white privilege that white people are afforded the luxury of insulating themselves from the daily toll of racism. It is because of white privilege that white people have the luxury of automatically having positive relationships with the police and other law enforcement. And the events which occurred on January 6th showed us that it is because of white privilege that white people have the ability to storm and attack the U.S. Capitol without having to face the same amount of resistance and punishment that Black Americans face when protesting for their own lives.

Going forward I challenge those of the Saint Anselm College community who are unaware or not well-versed in the concept of white privilege to learn more about its inner-workings and how it shapes our society. Understand how white privilege gives certain people certain luxuries while depriving others of those same luxuries. And once having done this, understanding how to use this privilege to help those around you who are not afforded the same luxuries as you are. How to use this privilege to support non-privileged communities in their fight against injustice, remove bias that exists throughout facets of life, and make society and its many institutions work for all, not just a select few.

Now, this may be difficult for some to do. It may be a harsh reality that some do not want to face. Our future demands that we are truthful and honest about the privilege that comes with white skin, however, because if we fail to do so, then we will never be able to fully establish the fair, just, and equitable society we all strive to achieve.

A Libertarian Take On The Capitol Siege

January 6th, 2021 will be a day that will live in infamy. Pictures and video from the siege on the Capitol resemble scenes from developing countries such as Colombia and Egypt, but these scenes were from the United States of America, the beacon of freedom and democracy. And yet those who stormed the Capitol called themselves by the liberal title of Libertarian.

As a Libertarian, those that stormed the Capitol haven’t the slightest clue what a libertarian is and what their actions resemble. Political violence is to not be tolerated and is to be shunned by all those that have any form of intelligence in a society. When becoming a Libertarian, I took an oath to not use violence for political gains. Those that laid siege to the Capitol – built on the ideas of liberty, reason, and the rule of law – did not care nor understand any of those ideals.

The insurrectionists who desecrated the most important building in the United States fought not to depose a dictator, oppose a new authoritarian decree, or revolt against a new war – no, they went to the Capitol to oppose an election certified by every state and to support a President that has become increasingly against the rule of law. While the putsch failed, it will have long-lasting effects that we have yet to fully understand. The Bier Hall putsch among many other similar failed attempts in history did not extinguish a movement or idea, often it was the mere beginning of something bigger.

The Libertarian Party of New Hampshire has condemned the activities that took place on the 6th and I stand with the party on this even before they put out a message. I have yet to see the RNC, DNC, nor LNC put out a press release yet. I realize these things take time to craft and put out politically, but time is of the essence and a strong handed message is imperative.

I did not vote for Trump nor Biden, I voted for Jo Jorgensen, but because she lost does not mean I go to the Capitol and cry my heart out with blood and lead. To mature is to not accept authority and the way things are, but is to use reason and logic when no one else is. To devolve to the situation seen on the 6th is a backstab to the reason why this country exists thematically.

The only path forward is pragmatism and unity. Biden certainly has his work cut out for him.

The GOP Now Bears a Heavy Burden. They Can’t Afford to Shirk Their Debt.

Wednesday, January 6, 2021, will be remembered as a sad shameful day in the history of the United States. The appalling, manic, and deeply un-American acts of terrorism committed around and within the Capitol building should, I certainly hope, represent rock-bottom for the Trump Era; an era already rife with moral lows. Perhaps what will remain the saddest legacy of the Trump Administration will be the denial and delusion that will linger after he leaves office.

To be clear: calling what happened Wednesday an act of domestic terrorism should not be a bombastic statement. In the halls of Congress, while the elected representatives of the nation are carrying out the will of the people, a mob that pledged allegiance to one man obstructed and delayed Congress’ carrying out the law. This was nothing close to a protest; this was an attempted coup. These insurrectionist made sure that there would be no peaceful transfer of power; anyone who believes otherwise, we must admit, is part of the problem.

There is no similarity between the George Floyd and Black Lives Matter protests of the summer, and the terrorism of Wednesday. Derek Chauvin actually knelt on the neck of George Floyd for 8 minutes and 47 seconds while he begged for air until he died. Breonna Taylor was actually shot five times in her sleep by law-enforcement. The election was not stolen from Donald Trump. Donald Trump is not secretly fighting an underworld cabal of Satanists and pedophiles, as has been suggested by conspiracy theorist groups such as QAnon. The BLM protesters demonstrated because they have legitimate claims and are fighting a righteous cause. Wednesday’s terrorists stormed the Capitol because they believe anything that comes from the mouth of Donald Trump and his MAGA cult of personality.

Wednesday’s terrorism was an example of mass delusion. The thousands of rioters delayed the peaceful transfer of power to President-Elect Joe Biden because they have been convinced without evidence that there was mass fraud and corruption in our election. One man bears responsibility for causing this mass delusion and invigorating these thugs by spewing baseless lies and conspiracy theories from the highest pulpit in the land: President Donald Trump. Trump, in his inability to accept his election loss, incited his supporters to disrupt the sacred process by which his power is transferred to his successor. Trump’s MAGA world is endemic in our society; his fervent supporters can be found in every state and county in the country. Yesterday was evidence that those who continue to support him and his conspiracy theories rest on a dangerous fringe of American politics.

I don’t begrudge those who voted for Donald Trump in 2016. Had I been of age, I might have voted for him too in my ignorance. I might be able to reconcile my frustration with those who voted for him in 2020, and then abandon ship when Trump began to shatter the walls of our beautiful democracy. I cannot, nor can the institutions of our nation tolerate and incorporate these fringe, dangerous, and undemocratic thoughts into civic life. Nor can we tolerate those who espouse them.

Where do we go from here? How do we move on from this terror and shameful chaos? The responsibility lies with those who supported the President through the past four years and somehow didn’t expect this. The GOP we knew before Trump is dead, and whatever rises out of Wednesday’s misery will and must come from those Republicans who can admit: this was a mistake, enough is enough. The GOP will bear the burden of the last four years, and the biggest burden will be the shame of January 6, 2021.

History will remember what we thought and did yesterday, and we cannot waste any more time pretending as though both sides have merit. The remnants of the Republican Party, most specifically the youngest members of the party, must be called upon to redeem their lost decency, to wipe away the tolerance of Trumpist authoritarianism, and to rebuild a spirit of love for our country, not for one man. These are the burdens the GOP bears and must come to terms with as we rebuild our democracy. There is a price to be paid for supporting a President who encourages acts of terror on our democracy, and I call on the Saint Anselm College Republicans, and all members of the GOP to start to pay that debt by condemning yesterday’s acts, and President Donald J. Trump.

Trump Supporters Lay Siege to Capitol Building In An Effort To Disrupt Electoral Vote Count.

Federal law states that every four years, after the general election, Congress shall meet in a joint session in order to certify the vote count of the Electoral College and officially name the incoming president. In typical years, this comes after the outgoing president has conceded the race, and is used as a photo-op for the president-elect and vice president-elect, as well as their supporters in Congress. This year, on the other hand, it comes after weeks of unproven voter fraud allegations from supporters of President Trump, claiming that the election was “stolen”.

After all voter fraud allegations were thrown out in court due to lack of evidence, over 100 Republican lawmakers announced that they would object to the Electoral College vote count during the joint session of Congress. It was clear that this would not be enough to overturn the election results, so President Trump asked Vice President Pence to overturn the election results himself, something which the Vice President has no authority to do. Pence published a statement this morning explaining that though he agrees with the President’s concerns about the election results, he cannot constitutionally overturn the results himself.

Prior to the beginning of the certification process in Congress, President Trump held a rally in Washington, DC, where he claimed that if Vice President Pence did the “right thing,” he would be given another term. 

The certification process began at 1:00 pm today, and though the vote counts from Alabama and Alaska-both states that voted for President Trump-were accepted with no issue, the first challenge came with the announcement of the vote in Arizona. This prompted a separation of the House of Representatives and Senate to enter debate on the issue. Soon after, protesters outside the Capitol began to break through barriers and storm the steps of the Capitol building. As crowds began to gather on the steps, others forced their way into the building, some breaking windows and climbing through them to enter. 

As rioters made their way through the building-many wearing Trump campaign memorabilia or carrying Confederate flags-lawmakers were sent into lockdown in their offices and instructed to wait until they were able to safely evacuate. Representatives were even given gas masks to protect themselves from tear gas that was deployed inside in an attempt to disperse rioters. One rioter, whose identity has not been released, was shot inside the Capitol and was brought to a local hospital where she has since passed away. Several law enforcement officers were also injured.

Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington, DC set a curfew for the city of 6:00 pm, before asking for assistance of the National Guard and defense from neighboring states. After the curfew went into effect, law enforcement officers were able to secure the Capitol building, and Congress has resumed debate on the acceptance of Arizona’s 11 electoral votes. Members of Congress expect the certification to be finished tonight.

The Saddest Day of Our Democracy

Only in today’s hyper-toxic political environment could the events of January 6th, 2020 occur. While over 100 Congressional Republicans, 10+ Senators, and the President objected to the valid results of the 2020 election, Americans who supported the President and everything he said became indoctrinated into his false premises. Let me repeat myself- Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are the next President and Vice President of the United States. They won by substantial margins in the battleground states of Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Georgia. When questions arose as to the validity of the ballots cast, Team Trump used their legal rights and objected in court. They lost – a lot. To date over 60 petitions had been filed in courts across the country with a grand total of 0 resulting in a change of vote count. The legal process should have and did end there. What came afterward has been nothing short of despicable, egregious, and dangerous. Refusing to admit defeat, the President and his cronies began peddling misinformation- that the election was rigged (it wasn’t), or that Hugo Chavez (a deceased Dictator of Venezuela) had conspired with voting machines among other lies. With these lies repeated over and over again, one by one people who voted for the President felt disenfranchised and angry- and wanted action.

With Congress meeting to certify the Electoral College vote on January 6th, the President and his loyalists saw this moment as one last chance to attempt to overturn the election, a tactic completely unconstitutional and dangerous. His calls to overturn the election reverberated throughout the party, with cynical Senators such as Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) joining the President in his claims in an attempt to win over his base of support. Leading up to today’s Joint Session of Congress, was a scheduled rally of protesters to try and convince their congress members to “object” to the results of the 2020 election. This goal became realized when President Trump joined the protesters and spoke in front of Capitol Hill this morning, further fanning the flames of hatred towards those willing to uphold the rule of law.

Emboldened by their President and members of Congress trying to score political gains, many protesters stormed the capital, breaking through barricades and smashing windows, forcing a shutdown and evacuation of the buildings. Amidst the chaos and dysfunction, the most radical (relatively speaking) of the group broke into the Senate chamber, rushing the majority member’s chair and jumping from the scaffolding. Where was the President during this moment of domestic terrorism? Tweeting. The tweets and videos have since been taken down due to the risk of instigating more violence, with one of them criticizing VP Pence for refusing to object. All while people overcame Capital Police and lay siege on our Capital.

Never before in the history of our nation have we had a President or major candidate for the nation’s highest office refuse to concede an election. Never before have we had domestic terrorists lay siege upon our nation’s Capital. Today is truly a sad, despicable day.