Had the rally and invasion of the Capital been by a predominantly African-American crowd, there would have been, I believe, much greater and more effective police protection of the building and those within. And a more violent response from the police. Had the rally and invasion of the Capital been by a predominantly liberal or left-wing crowd, there would have been, I believe, much greater and more effective police protection of the building and those within. And a more violent police response. Race is not the only line to draw here, and seeing additional factors does not lessen the import of the fact that this crowd was overwhelmingly white; that it was overwhelmingly right-wing is also a part of the story, and should not be forgotten. The reliance on language encouraging violence and extra-legal conduct is a greater part of the Republican party than elsewhere. The verbal violence of Gringich is one starting point in that story, and his success within the party leads to this week's failed insurrection. The thousands were and are part of the local party apparatuses of the Republican party. It is up to that party to remove them from influence. The talk of unity and so on is to the good, but remains advertising chatter until the Republican party turns against the violence and illegality demonstrated this week. A single vote will not do. That Romney was virtually alone for months against Trump means that too much of the party is intertwined with Trump's cult of illegality and violence and unifocal drive for power.
Part of what needs to be done is to reject local leadership like that of the head of the Chicago Police Union. An apology for minimizing and excusing the events at the Capital seems to me inadequate. Catanzara should not be head of the union. Defending violent felonies, which is what he did, can't be reconciled with his position as the leader of a police union. The Senators and Representatives who condoned the attack -- which is just what the votes objecting to the Electors fo Arizona and Pennsylvania, etc. -- should have no place in a national party.
The pathetic performance of all of the security agencies and leaders shows that there is a need to reorganize and reassign, and fire, a good number of agencies and persons. It was plain from the news reports in advance of the rally that violence should be expected, that there was an intent to attack the Capital. Yet too few officers, no presence outside the building, no National Guard, and so on. The Capital deserves at least the defense of a courthouse in Portland. But it got very little.
Over and over violence by Trump's supporters was excused and explained away. Certainly by Republicans and conservatives. Also by police and prosecutors, and by judges. Courts too excused violence by right-wingers. From little things, like the Trump bodyguard who assaulted a protester without suffering any punishment, to crowds encouraged to rough of and attack protestors, to that disgrace to the Army, Flynn.
Change the politics, change the race, there would not have been an invasion of the Capital. But then, there have not been calls and planning by BLM or left and liberal groups to attack the Capital.
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