On January 6th, the capitol was promptly broken into by a crowd of pro-Trump protestors regarding “election fraud.” What made this protest notable was that the Senate was in session and accepting on bi-partisan terms that Joe Biden would be the next President of the United States.
That morning the bubble of aggression popped as Trump suggested that Pence, as the President of the Senate, could send results back to the states and recertify so he could become president again. Pence is not constitutionally allowed to do this. And therefore, a mob began at the foothill of the capitol.
As their crowd grew, so did their violent tendencies towards the capitol police protecting the building. With a lack of reinforcements and the National Guard being delayed in activation due to the President’s necessity to activate the DC division, the police were quickly overrun. The mob eventually made their way to the Senate and Congressional chambers and ransacked multiple offices of their supplies. Not only is this unethical to a protest, but a serious federal crime.
From both sides of the spectrum, multiple political commentators condemned the rioters as following in the act of sedition. Joe Biden also said that these events “border on sedition.” A seditious conspiracy is defined in federal law as two or more persons “conspir(ing) to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, … 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.” The law comes with a fine or imprisonment up to 20 years, or both.
No matter what side you are regarding this election, these events shouldn’t be taken lightly. We are the beacon of freedom and democracy, a country of checks and balances, and a nation that follows accurate and fair elections. The county has not been as divided on an issue since the Civil War. Although we will never agree as a whole, understanding our stances and viewpoints are crucial to keep the peace and avoid actions like these in the future.
