A mob of supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump struggle with members of regulation enforcement at a door they broke open as they storm the U.S. Capitol Constructing in Washington, U.S., January 6, 2021.
REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photograph
5 years in the past Tuesday, the U.S. Capitol was attacked by an indignant mob who believed lies concerning the presidential election being “stolen,” who rampaged via the seat of American authorities in an effort to interrupt the certification of the election outcomes.
That could be a truth. That isn’t an opinion. That’s precisely what transpired on Jan. 6, 2021. Additionally it is essential for the way forward for this nation to know the reality.
Right here in New York, two state lawmakers — state Sen. John Liu of Queens and Meeting Member Charles Lavine of Lengthy Island — are searching for laws to mandate that each one colleges educate the correct historical past of Jan. 6.
Youngsters should be taught that elections, democracy, and the rule of regulation are all sacred establishments that should be revered. The very survival of this nation relies upon upon such respect.
The state Legislature should act to go this invoice, and Gov. Kathy Hochul should signal it into regulation.
In doing so, we are able to begin to repair the injury inflicted by rebellion deniers who’ve sought to whitewash Jan. 6, 2021, as a blip in American historical past — only a few rowdy “patriots” who obtained out of hand.
By no means thoughts the lots of of Capitol law enforcement officials the mob injured that day.
By no means thoughts the mauraders smashing their means into the Capitol, raiding the Senate chamber and Home Speaker’s workplace, and defecating on the premises.
By no means thoughts the 5 individuals who died within the occasion, with at the very least one loss of life coming on account of the mob’s effort to apprehend and hurt the Speaker.
By no means thoughts the sitting president on the time, Donald Trump, who fueled the election lies that ginned up the mob, and did nothing for hours to place down the rebellion.
These are information. These should not opinions. There isn’t a “other side to the story.” There isn’t a room for “whataboutism.”
But the reality of Jan. 6 continues to be denied by too many People in a lot the identical means as ignorant folks deny cataclysmic occasions such because the Holocaust or 9/11.
The hazards of such denials are incalculable. It signifies that the U.S. Capitol, future presidential elections, and American democracy itself stay susceptible to assault by those that search to undermine them, believing they’re justified in assaulting our authorities in the event that they don’t get their means.
That is very true since President Trump final yr pardoned the greater than 1,500 Jan. 6 attackers who have been tried, convicted and sentenced for his or her roles within the assault on our democracy. With no penalties for his or her actions, what’s to cease them from attempting once more?
Thinker George Santayana mentioned it completely a long time in the past: “Those who fail to remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” If we don’t educate the true historical past of Jan. 6, we’re doomed to see it inflicted upon our nation as soon as extra, and probably to extra deadly impact.
