Jan. 6 was a low point for our democracy.
Encouraged by our president, we saw mobs overrun the U.S. Capitol, breaking windows and occupying assembly rooms and offices to protest a “stolen” election and block certification of President-elect Joseph Biden.
Officials were forced to take cover in safe rooms, behind barricaded doors, as security personnel drew firearms. The Confederate flag flew high. Trump flags rippled. Amazingly, law enforcement was caught flat-footed.
There was little resistance by the police, or crowd control, and few arrests. It makes one wonder whether there was a reason behind the lack of preparation. Was there law enforcement collaboration and enabling? The rioters were handled gently. I’m guessing “rioting while white” has benefits.
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Sadly, the participants were true believers. Trump encouraged the attempted coup. Their audience, certain government officials, were putting on a show. They knew their ploy to reverse the election wouldn’t work and they didn’t care. The rioters were chumps, pawns used for political gain. This travesty put our representatives in danger and our democracy in peril.
Our nation will survive, but it is badly damaged. The perpetrators should be arrested. Those senators and representatives who supported the rebellion should be held responsible and punished at the ballot box.
Karen Wagner, Rolling Meadows
Looking back at the 2016 election
Do the people who semi-casually voted for Donald Trump in 2016, thinking “what’s the worst that could happen,” have their answer yet?
Curt Fredrikson, Mokena
