Written by Elizabeth Moon

Yesterday’s attack on the U.S. Capitol building is not the first time in recent years that an armed mob intent on overturning a legitimate government has been successful.  Local police and other forces responsible for the security of state houses have “stood down” in the face of these mobs in multiple states this year, while quite willing to target gatherings that are not aimed at overturning a governor or legislature. Despite the FBI’s repeated statements that white, right wing groups were acting just like foreign terrorists, right-wing politicians have continued to back police attacking “antifa thugs,” and “lawless Blacks/Mexicans/immigrants” for any damage done.

Many people have pointed out that the roots of police violence in this country go back to the slave patrols of the 18th and 19th century…but police brutality and police attachment to “control” over justice has existed widely across history and geography.  Police work attracts those who want to control others.  Thus having good law enforcement means selecting and training law officers in ways that develop their commitment to citizens’ welfare and their duty to “protect and serve” rather than “dominate and harm” citizens.  We cannot expect police to be more selfless and idealistic than everyone else, but we can’t let them be more dangerous, worse, than the criminals we want protection from.

When police welcome one mob, but are prepared to fire on another, and when legitimate government activities are disrupted because the security of governors and legislators and courtrooms is breached through the inaction or cooperation with a mob, it’s imperative that investigation get to the bottom of whose laws and whose orders the police have committed to.  The only way to have a democratic republic, a healthy one, is to have police that know and will obey all the laws all the time, and follow the lawful orders to protect elected officials from violence.  

We have in the past few years seen Capitol Police yanking disabled people out of their wheelchairs, which is of course easier than confronting a large guy carrying a big stick. Images taken of the Capitol steps during a Black Lives Matter march show fully kitted out police, heavily armed, arrayed on the steps, defending the Capitol.  Images taken yesterday show a thin group of Capitol Police, not in riot gear, opening the gates to let a violent and armed mob into the Capitol, where they easily penetrated the Senate and House chambers.

 Thousands were arrested at the Black Lives Matter march; only 56 were arrested for the Capitol invasion.  In some states invasion of offices and legislative chambers has not been opposed at all by the law enforcement supposedly taxed with their protection.  Cities and towns attempting to curb police misbehavior have been threatened with violence as well.  This suggests a widespread revolt by law enforcement, along with some citizens–and the FBI has previous said our various police departments have been infiltrated by right wing groups.

So what do we do?  We defend–with our tax dollars, with our contributions to political campaigns–democratic principles across the board.  The rule of law, not persons, is fundamental to a democratic society, so we start with that, in regards to biased and unjust policing.  

We insist on training, in all LEO courses in colleges and individual PDs, that adheres to the these principles.  We insist on local communities hiring only individuals qualified by such training, and demonstrating that attitude from the get-go.  We insist that law enforcement exists for the welfare and safety of citizens, not just PDs.   

And by “we” I mean white citizens, since it is white citizens who have been running the country for more than two centuries.  It’s the desire of white citizens for privilege and the exclusion of others that’s shoved policing in the wrong direction.  As Jim Wright of Stonekettle Station puts it “If you want a better country, be better citizens.”

I fairly often bring you stories from Fayette County, Texas, because I have adorable friends who live there.

Here’s a story to make you smile.

Click here to see the full size one.

According to the Washington Post, the day that will live in infamy passed unnoticed all across the country.

A record 3,915 people died of covid-19 in the United States, the deadliest day of a pandemic that has claimed more than 360,000 lives across the country.

We knew the second wave was coming. We knew that we would need a plan to vaccinate everybody in the country as fast as possible. We knew that a federal effort was needed. Trump put Jarred in charge, which means Jared pocked the money, got vaccines for his friends, and left town.

And here we are. Right here. More people will die today than died yesterday.

We don’t have 14 days to waste.

Get rid of this guy.

Just a little reminder.  Walls don’t work.

I guess I should be grateful that the capitol police aren’t throwing ropes down to them.

Every single person who set foot on the Capitol grounds yesterday carrying out Trump’s orders is guilty of the law noted above.  This crime is felony, punishable by incarceration for up to 20 years.  The law reads:

“If two or more persons in any State or Territory, or in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof, they shall each be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.”

This idiot is Jake Angeli, a well known Qanon conspiracy theorist who regularly shoots off his mouth at demonstrations.  He led the way into the Capitol yesterday with other rioters, and took part in taking over the Senate Chamber and was photographed on the dias. Yes, that’s a spear he’s carrying with an American flag tied to it.  He took a leadership role in this riot and sacking of the Capitol Building, and then, like the vast majority of these rioters simply walked out a free man.  To my knowledge he is still walking free.  He dresses like this to admittedly “attract attention”.  Like many Trumpists and “sovereign citizens” he obviously believes he’s above the law and can act with impunity (up to now, at least, he seems to be correct in his suppositions since he hasn’t been arrested in the past for his conduct.  At minimum, he’s now in violation of the Seditious Conspiracy law, as well as likely a number of other state, local, and federal laws.

This guy’s face is everywhere, so my question is, why in the hell is this criminal still walking the streets?  He, and everyone who participated in this riot and destruction of the Capitol building are criminals.  These criminals must be rounded up, jailed, charged and tried, and I mean swiftly.  The only way you stop this kind of behavior is to begin to swiftly bring these people to justice.  Charge them with crimes; confiscate their weapons, make to do actual serious jail time.  Only when we start enforcing the rule of law can we put a stop to this kind of protest.  This is not a First Amendment issue; this is a criminal sedition issue.  When Trump’s goons set foot on the Capitol Hill grounds, the protest ceased being a demonstration and became a felony.  We need to treat it that way, and I mean now.

Today was the second time that the US Capitol was assaulted in US history.  The last time was 1812.  Trump, along with his enablers, including Giuliani, Flynn, Gohmert, Hawley, and especially Cruz are DIRECTLY responsible for the violence today.  All of the major social media platforms froze Trump’s accounts today for “repeated and severe violations” of their Civic Integrity policies.  This action, which is way too little, way too late is at least something, but it is NOT enough.  The time is now long past for removal of Trump from office with the 25th Amendment.

There are 14 days now until the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.  We simply can’t trust Trump to preserve our republic for those 14 days, and it’s now time for Pence to lead the cabinet in a vote to immediately remove him from office before he does something REALLY stupid like starting a war or inciting more insurrection.  Do it now.  I mean NOW.

Then, the federal government should pursue, and arrest and charge, every single individual who trespassed into OUR Capitol building and defiled both chambers or our legislative branch.  This nonsense has to stop, and I mean NOW.