On January 6, 2021, over 2,000 supporters of Donald Trump stormed the United States Capitol building in an attempt to prevent congress from certifying the 2020 presidential election and to keep Donald Trump as the president. They threatened to hang Vice President Mike Pence.[1] Many rioters had firearms and some brought pipe bombs.[2] The Oath Keepers brought grenades and suitcases of ammunition to Washington, D.C. the day before the insurrection.[3]
Groups involved
Many far-right groups were involved, including the Groyper Army, Boogaloo Boys,[4] Oath Keepers,[5] Proud Boys,[6] Neo-Nazis,[7][8] and Three Percenters.[9] In addition, members of the Hong Kong and "East Turkestan" independence movements were present at the insurrection.[10]
Symbolism
The Nazi-based flag of Kekistan, a fictional country created by fascists on 4chan, was used at the riot.[8] The rioters also flew the flags of historical right-wing countries, including the Confederate States of America,[8] monarchist Iran, pre-revolutionary Cuba,[10] the Republic of Vietnam,[11] and the Tibetan theocracy.[12]
Government collaboration
The Department of Defense delayed dispatching the National Guard for more than three hours. Despite widespread threats of violence before the insurrection, the capitol police were not under high alert.[1]
Reactions
Criticism
President-elect Joe Biden claimed that the United States' "democracy" was under assault,[13] but there was never true democracy in the United States before or after the riot. The riot was blamed on Antifa by the right.[14]
After the riot, Twitter banned Donald Trump's account and 70,000 other QAnon-related accounts.[2]
The Global Times stated that the capitol insurrection represented an internal collapse of the U.S. political system.[2]
Approval
45% of Trump's supporters approved of the Capitol riot. In February 2022, the Republican National Committee called the insurrection "legitimate political discourse."[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Patrick Martin (2022-06-30). "The unanswered questions about Trump’s January 6 coup" World Socialist Web Site. Archived from the original on 2022-06-30. Retrieved 2022-06-30.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Assault on the Capitol: 24 questions and answers" (2022-01-06). Liberation News. Archived from the original on 2022-02-18. Retrieved 2022-06-22.
- ↑ Jacob Crosse (2022-07-11). "Oath Keepers brought grenades, rifles, “suitcases full of ammunition” to Washington D.C. on eve of January 6" World Socialist Web Site. Archived from the original on 2022-07-11. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
- ↑ Laura E. Adkins, Emily Burack (2021-01-07). "Hate on display: A guide to the symbols and signs on display at the Capitol insurrection" The Jewish News of North California. Archived from the original on 2022-06-27. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
- ↑ Alan Feuer, Adam Goldman (2022-01-23). "Oath Keepers Leader Charged With Seditious Conspiracy in Jan. 6 Investigation" The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2022-03-07. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
- ↑ Anthony Zurcher (2021-02-13). "Trump impeachment trial: What verdict means for Trump, Biden and America" BBC. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
- ↑ Curt Devine, Scott Bronstein (2021-01-10). "Man in ‘Camp Auschwitz’ sweatshirt during Capitol riot identified" CNN. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Mallory Simon, Sara Sidner (2021-01-09). "Decoding the extremist symbols and groups at the Capitol Hill insurrection" CNN. Archived from the original on 2022-07-01. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
- ↑ Thomas Pallini (2021-01-07). "Photos show the aftermath of an unprecedented and destructive siege on the US Capitol that left 4 rioters dead" Insider. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Raising Their Banner High: Fascism, Imperialism, and Anti-Communism at the Capitol Hill Riots" (2022-01-10). Qiao Collective. Archived from the original on 2022-08-16. Retrieved 2022-09-11.
- ↑ Claire Wang (2021-01-15). "Why the defunct South Vietnam flag was flown at the Capitol riot" NBC News. Archived from the original on 2022-06-14. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
- ↑ Tenzin Dharpo (2021-01-08). "Tibetan flag among Capitol hill rioters “concerning”, says NA Representative" Phayul. Archived from the original on 2022-01-26. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
- ↑ "‘Our Democracy Is Under Unprecedented Assault,’ Biden Says" (2021-01-6). The New York Times. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
- ↑ Ben Collins, Brandy Zadrozny (2021-01-06). "Trump loyalists push evidence-free claims that antifa activists fueled mob" NBC News. Retrieved 2022-03-25.