This article won honorable mention in the 2021 Michigan Interscholastic Press Association spring awards ceremony.
All by-lined opinion pieces reflect the opinion of the author only, not necessarily those of the Editorial Board, adviser and the rest of the staff.
For the first time in 200 years, the U.S. capitol was breached. According to The Guardian, the last attack was done by British troops during the War of 1812. On January 6, 2021, the capitol was forcibly stormed, once again, but this time by Americans.
The day had started off with protesting by Trump supporters in a “March to Save America,” promoted by President Donald Trump. The peaceful march was meant to show how they disagreed with how the election played out. As the day went on, the protest grew into a riot. People broke through the barricades that the police had made.
It’s odd how the same people that say “back the blue” were fighting the police.
Once the rioters had made it to the capitol building they began breaking windows, smashing doors, and rummaging through offices. According to CNBC, five people died and more than 50 police officers were injured. These rioters were terrorists, but it took the media a few days to correctly label them as such.
Trump never called for the National Guard to help stop the violence. It was Vice President Mike Pence that made the call after the riots had continued to stay violent.
Back in May of 2020, the National Guard was at the White House during the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests when they were peacefully protesting. In a tweet, Trump called the BLM protesters “thugs” when some of the protests became violent. Though when his supporters were beating police and destroying The Capitol he urged them to continue, calling them “great patriots.” Later, as the violence raged on, Trump tweeted a video saying “We have to have peace. So go home. We love you.” He was later banned from Twitter and other social media platforms for “the risk of further incitement of violence.”
It is unbelievable how plainly biased President Trump is. When the movement is done by his supporters he approves of it, even when it becomes violent. When the movement is not one that he approves of, he attacks it. A man like that should not be running our country.
A few days after the riots Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives for “incitement of insurrection.” He is the first president in American history to be impeached twice. Now it is up to the Senate to decide if he will be convicted.
If the Senate were to remove The President from office, it will make it so he is not allowed to run again. If he is removed, Trump will not receive the benefits of other former presidents, like Secret Service protection and health benefits.
Trump has made a mockery of America and has been called out by leaders of other countries for the bad decisions he has made. America needs to show other countries that we understand that Trump has made mistakes during his presidency and we won’t stand for it.
As Biden’s inauguration grows closer, state capitols all around the country are preparing for more riots. It is disgusting how people believe they have a right to be violent and injure innocent people because they think there was election fraud, yet can provide no verifiable evidence. The White House is a sacred building where history is made. People should not think it is acceptable to storm this building without consequences.
These people are not starting a revolution. They are not doing what is right for our country. All that has come from their actions is more hate between the parties and embarrassment for America.
