National

Racism at Core of Attack on Capitol and Black People, as Usual, Rise to the Occasion

That the Capitol Police were unprepared for what had been predicted would be an unruly, dangerous crowd, was the second sign of racism as Black news pundits and even some politicians, including President-elect Joe Biden, observed that security would have been much different if these had been, for instance, Black Lives Matter protesters.

Published

3 years ago

January 15, 2021

Kiki

The attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters on January 6 was practically a picture postcard of racism in America.

Firstly, it was prompted by the victory of Joe Biden over Pres. Donald Trump in November’s election, a victory that had significant support from Black and Brown voters.

In denial, Trump, with the help of right-wing media, claimed the election had been stolen and turned to the MAGA crowd and Republican politicians to ‘Stop the Steal.’

Wearing MAGA hats, carrying Confederate flags and armed with tactical gear and carrying military grade weapons, the crowd of mostly white Trump supporters marched to the Capitol at the president’s behest.

The attack left six people dead. The men and women of Congress, knowing they were targeted for injury and even death by a highly organized, tactical element of the rioters are left traumatized.

The third element of racism was in the actions and testimony of the Capitol’s Black police and staff said racism played.

Buzzfeed News interviewd two Black officers, one a veteran and one a newer recruit. They said it was “a trained group of militia terrorists who attacked us.”

One was beaten by a rioter carrying a Blue Lives Matter flag.

“I got called a n—- 15 times today,” the veteran officer shouted in the Rotunda at the day’s end. “Trump did this and we got all of these … people in our department that voted for him. How the …. can you support him?”

“I cried for about 15 minutes and I just let it out,” he said.

In a widely circulated video, it was a Black member of the Capitol Police officer whose heroism perhaps saved members of the Senate and staff from harm. Alone and outnumbered, the Capitol policeman is seen repeatedly shoving a trespasser in the chest, drawing him and his followers away from a doorway to the Senate chamber that was still insecure.

In all, before the six-hour siege was over, at least 14 police officers were assaulted.

That so many were injured, yet so few intruders were arrested and so few arrests were attempted was also a sign of racism as comparisons between the Capitol attack and one Black Lives Matter demonstration attest. Eventually, the Capitol Police got help from the National Guard.

Much has been made about the vulnerability of the members of Congress, but they were not the only ones trapped during the siege. Some members of Congress had their staff with them and then there were the people who maintain the building, many of who are people of color.

It was they, Black and Brown men and women joined late in the evening of the attack by a Korean Ameican congressman from New Jersey who cleaned up the mess made by a crown that was mostly white.

They picked up glass, empty bottles and broken furniture. They took away broken and damaged artifacts — for the Capitol is also a museum. They wiped away blood, urine and feces from floors, walls and statues.

Interviewed in the following days, some janitorial staff said they felt unsafe in a building that was supposed to have some of the best security in the world.

“It felt bad. It’s degrading,” said one custodial employee in his 30s, who works for the Architect of the Capitol’s Labor Division. “We’re all Black in this shop.”

Amid the debris, a piece of a tribute to the late John Lewis was found. It had been destroyed.

Buzzfeed, Business Insider and The Washington Post are the sources for this report.

Kiki

Posts by Kiki | Website

Related Topics:Congressman John Lewis (D-GA)Donald Trump MAGA President-elect Joe Biden

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024

Published

9 hours ago

April 19, 2024

Oakland Post

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Barbara Lee

Congresswoman Barbara Lee Issues Statement on Deaths of Humanitarian Aid Volunteers in Gaza 

On April 2, a day after an Israeli airstrike erroneously killed seven employees of World Central Kitchen (WCK), a humanitarian organization delivering aid in the Gaza Strip, a statement was release by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA-12). “This is a devastating and avoidable tragedy. My prayers go to the families and loved ones of the selfless members of the World Central Kitchen team whose lives were lost,” said Lee.

Published

2 days ago

April 17, 2024

Oakland Post

Congresswoman Barbara Lee

By California Black Media

“This is a devastating and avoidable tragedy. My prayers go to the families and loved ones of the selfless members of the World Central Kitchen team whose lives were lost,” said Lee.

The same day, it was confirmed by the organization that the humanitarian aid volunteers were killed in a strike carried out by Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Prior to the incident, members of the team had been travelling in two armored vehicles marked with the WCF logo and they had been coordinating their movements with the IDF. The group had successfully delivered 10 tons of humanitarian food in a deconflicted zone when its convoy was struck.

“This is not only an attack against WCK. This is an attack on humanitarian organizations showing up in the direst situations where food is being used as a weapon of war. This is unforgivable,” said Erin Gore, chief executive officer of World Central Kitchen.

The seven victims included a U.S. citizen as well as others from Australia, Poland, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Palestine.

Lee has been a vocal advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza and has supported actions by President Joe Biden to airdrop humanitarian aid in the area.

“Far too many civilians have lost their lives as a result of Benjamin Netanyahu’s reprehensible military offensive. The U.S. must join with our allies and demand an immediate, permanent ceasefire – it’s long overdue,” Lee said.

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Commentary

Commentary: Republican Votes Are Threatening American Democracy

In many ways, it was great that the Iowa Caucuses were on the same day as Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We needed to know the blunt truth. The takeaway message after the Iowa Caucuses where Donald Trump finished more than 30 points in front of Florida Gov. De Santis and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley boils down to this: Our democracy is threatened, for real.

Published

3 days ago

April 16, 2024

Oakland Post

It was strange for Iowans to caucus on MLK day. It had a self-cancelling effect. The day that honored America’s civil rights and anti-discrimination hero was negated by evening. That’s when one of the least diverse states in the nation let the world know that white Americans absolutely love Donald Trump. No ifs, ands or buts.

By Emil Guillermo

In many ways, it was great that the Iowa Caucuses were on the same day as Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

We needed to know the blunt truth.

The takeaway message after the Iowa Caucuses where Donald Trump finished more than 30 points in front of Florida Gov. De Santis and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley boils down to this: Our democracy is threatened, for real.

And to save it will require all hands on deck.

It was strange for Iowans to caucus on MLK day. It had a self-cancelling effect. The day that honored America’s civil rights and anti-discrimination hero was negated by evening.

That’s when one of the least diverse states in the nation let the world know that white Americans absolutely love Donald Trump. No ifs, ands or buts.

No man is above the law? To the majority of his supporters, it seems Trump is.

It’s an anti-democracy loyalty that has spread like a political virus.

No matter what he does, Trump’s their guy. Trump received 51% of caucus-goers votes to beat Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who garnered 21.2%, and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who got 19.1%.

The Asian flash in the pan Vivek Ramaswamy finished way behind and dropped out. Perhaps to get in the VP line. Don’t count on it.

According to CNN’s entrance polls, when caucus-goers were asked if they were a part of the “MAGA movement,” nearly half — 46% — said yes. More revealing: “Do you think Biden legitimately won in 2020?”

Only 29% said “yes.”

That means an overwhelming 66% said “no,” thus showing the deep roots in Iowa of the “Big Lie,” the belief in a falsehood that Trump was a victim of election theft.

Even more revealing and posing a direct threat to our democracy was the question of whether Trump was fit for the presidency, even if convicted of a crime.

Sixty-five percent said “yes.”

Who says that about anyone of color indicted on 91 criminal felony counts?

Would a BIPOC executive found liable for business fraud in civil court be given a pass?

How about a BIPOC person found liable for sexual assault?

Iowans have debased the phrase, “no man is above the law.” It’s a mindset that would vote in an American dictatorship.

Compare Iowa with voters in Asia last weekend. Taiwan rejected threats from authoritarian Beijing and elected pro-democracy Taiwanese vice president Lai Ching-te as its new president.

Meanwhile, in our country, which supposedly knows a thing or two about democracy, the Iowa caucuses show how Americans feel about authoritarianism.

Some Americans actually like it even more than the Constitution allows.

About the Author

Emil Guillermo is a journalist and commentator. He does a mini-talk show on YouTube.com/@emilamok1.