A Sad Day in America's History

Today, my heart is heavy and it hurts looking at footage of the Capitol from yesterday's riots. There are no words (or maybe too many words) to describe what happened on Wednesday, January 6th, 2021 in the capital of the United States and I have no support or respect for the people and the people who incited them. Partially, I actually had to look away from the news. As an American, it is a disgrace and total embarrassment to watch and to know that the sitting president stirred those rioters on to break in to the building. It was the first time in recent history that the Capitol was breached and it took several hours to secure. The ceremonial counting of the electoral votes had to be paused and members of the  Congress brought to safety after the mob stormed the building. 

This is the first time in the USA’s history that the Confederate flag has appeared inside the halls of the Capitol. The image is significant because of what the flag stands for –– white supremacy and the social and political exclusion of colored people. This is outrageous and should not be accepted. 

Later in the afternoon, Trump called on supporters, who protested in his name and whom he had encouraged to march to the Capitol, to “remain peaceful” and “respect the Law”  but he also refrains from telling them to go home.

What is most shocking to me is the police respond to this riot when compared to peaceful protests by Black Lives Matter protesters in June at the Capitol. It took hours to get the National Guard mobilized yesterday but in June, protesters were met by National Guard members, armed and camouflaged. 

"When Black people protest for our lives, we are all too often met by National Guard troops or police equipped with assault rifles, shields, tear gas and battle helmets," the group (BLM) said in a statement. "Make no mistake, if the protesters were Black, we would have been tear gassed, battered, and perhaps shot." 

Once the Capitol was secured again, lawmakers returned from lockdown to the House and Senate chambers, to continue counting the votes nearly six hours after the crowd wreaked havoc on America's symbol of democracy. The House and Senate declared that Biden won the Electoral College by 306 votes to 232 for Trump. Minutes after that a statement from the White House was released that Trump "commits to an orderly transition of power".

On a positive note, on Tuesday Democrats won control of the U.S. Senate with victories in Georgia’s two runoff elections.

It is hard to comprehend why it has to come to this and when this craziness will finally be over. But thru all of this I keep praying for hope and community in our country. We must stay strong together. And teach our children that we don't hate each other just because we differ in size, race, sexuality, religion or opinions but show respect and accept defeat graciously. 

Sources: 

1. https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/07/us/police-response-black-lives-matter-protest-us-capitol/index.html
2. https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/07/politics/trump-biden-us-capitol-electoral-college-insurrection/index.html
3. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/01/06/us/georgia-election-results
4. https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-significance-of-the-confederate-flag-waved-inside-the-us-capitol-7137213/
5. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/trump-commits-orderly-transition-statement-after-mob-stormed-capitol-n1253223