By Demetrius Dillard
Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) characterized Wednesday’s occurrences in Washington, D.C. perfectly when he said, “this is a terrible time for our democracy.”
As only two weeks remain until President Donald Trump’s departure from the White House, what began as a ceremonial function early on Wednesday turned into utter disgust as an overwhelmingly violent mob of Trump protesters breached the Capitol building in downtown Washington, setting forth one of the most egregious acts of lawlessness in recent history.
As the House of Representatives and Senate held a meeting to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the Capitol after President Trump urged demonstrators to march there and pressure Congress to overturn the election, crowds of White supremacist Trump supporters – including the Proud Boys, private militia groups and others – broke through security fencing and forced their way through law enforcement to breach the halls of Congress.
Law enforcement took quite a while to restore order as thousands of violent mobsters remained in downtown Washington for hours. Eventually, the D.C. National Guard was mobilized, authorities confirmed. After Trump urged protestors to “go home in peace,” the crowd began to thin out, but police are still struggling to clear the Capitol grounds.
Enrique Tarrio, the leader of the militant far-right Proud Boys, was arrested for burning a Black Lives Matter banner belonging to a Black church in Northwest D.C. but is no longer in custody and has reportedly been ordered to leave Washington until his next court hearing.
Trump rioters, who engaged in political insurrection at the behest of President, didn’t come to the nation’s capital empty-handed.
Shots were fired, grenades were thrown and individuals were stabbed as demonstrators engaged in ongoing unlawful behavior, which raised questions of the security of the National Mall — supposedly the most secure establishment in the country. Many also wondered why there seemed to be minimal police presence when protesters forced their way into the Capitol.
The First Amendment of The Constitution gives citizens the right to peacefully protest [“…the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances], but what unfolded Wednesday was a blatant display of White privilege, White supremacy and, in essence, history repeating itself.
Trump’s reign is coming to a bitter, disfavorable end. And out of desperation, he has constantly executed futile attempts to overturn election results along with filing failed lawsuits built on baseless claims of a fraudulent, “stolen election.”
A Wall Street Journal report noted that Trump called for federal police to monitor Black Lives Matter Protests that occurred last summer, but didn’t do the same as his supporters violently marched into one of Washington’s most well-protected buildings.
History has shown that peaceful Black protest was met with intense fury at the hands of corrupt police or angry White supremacists. Martin Luther King Jr. was a staunch advocate for peaceful protest, and though he never called for anyone to execute violent acts, he was on the FBI’s most wanted list.
Black protestors, especially during the Civil Rights Movement, were sprayed down water hoses, furiously attacked and oftentimes murdered just for demanding equal treatment as human beings. Fast forward 60 years later, and Black protesters are labeled as “rioters” as opposed to demonstrators, BLM protestors are threatened with tear gas and other forms of state violence.
As the violence in Washington transpired, Black Twitter reacted with criticism and disgust.
“All of the calls for patience and sympathy for these hateful people. As so many folks have said, this was to be expected,” said Princeton University professor Imani Perry.
Similarly, New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow tweeted, “If black people were storming the capitol…”
Even dating back to the slave rebellions of the 18th and 19th centuries, American history has proven that a demand for justice from an oppressed people results in either over-aggressive policing or fatality. The same treatment hasn’t been given to Whites, who have historically been far more violent.
Tamika Mallory, one of the most outspoken figures during the BLM protests, has a message for Black people that was straightforward.
“I suggest that Black folks stand back and stand by while these white folks throw a tantrum in DC,” she said in a tweet.
“America needs to face it’s real problem. Don’t go out there. This is NOT our fight.”
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