The entirety of the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment reads as follows:
“Congress shall make
no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the
right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a
redress of grievances.”
This single sentence
is often used to justify or otherwise support all kinds of objections and
actions on behalf of individuals. However, on its face, this amendment only
states what the Government cannot do. It does not address the
limits placed on individuals, corporations, media, or free press.
If Twitter cancels
your account – it is NOT protected by the first amendment. Just because you are
free to say whatever you want, does not mean anyone is obligated to publish or reference
it.
If a social media publisher
wants to promote hate, false conspiracies or civil disobedience, there is no
law that says internet providers must carry the content. And any call to violence
can completely nullify the first amendment protections for the individual as
well. Such calls could also endanger the content provider as a coconspirator.
In January of 2021, a
sitting U.S. President incited a large group of followers (peacefully assembled
at that point) in a D.C. rally with lies asserting the 2020 elections that
removed him from office were not free and fair elections. He told them to march
to the Capital building to affect the outcome of the proceedings there (Congress
was in the process of validating the electoral collage results that would place
Joe Biden in the Presidency). They did as they were instructed.
A significant faction
of those assembled were carrying confederate flags, Nazi signs, battle flags; wearing
protective gear, war paint, costumes, with some sporting zip-tie restraints for
use on – who knows. The crowd – feeling justified by a sitting president - stormed
the capital while congress was in session and killed a police officer, damaged &
stole property, broke windows, smashed furnishings, threatened the lives of law
makers and the Vice President, and occupied offices and chambers of lawmakers.
The lawmakers themselves were escorted to safe rooms and guarded by a small contingent
of Capital Police and secret service personnel.
During the hours-long siege
Capital security attempted to get National Guard and other reinforcements to expel
the invaders. But requests were denied or ignored by the Trump administration.
Four people died before
security could be restored. A second police officer died from injuries days
later. A mostly white mob, few arrests were made. Those that were arrested, were
arrested on misdemeanor charges. Several photos were circulated of some Capital
Police officers smiling and taking pictures with the insurgents prior to violence
breaking out.
In stark contrast to peaceful
Blank Lives Matter protests in 2020 that Trump ordered dispersed by military
force (that included Blackhawk helicopters and tear gas), the Capital siege was
a stark reminder of the White privilege that persists and stains this nation.
While vile and treacherous,
the storming of the Capital is not the real story here. It is a symptom rather than
a cause. While bringing the mob leaders of this action to justice is a priority
for law enforcement nationwide, the real burden of fixing this so it does not
happen again, is in the hands of We The People.
The real leaders of
this abomination were NOT Trump or his family, it was the congressional representatives
and senators that perpetrated, and gave legitimacy to, Trump’s lies about the
election. They had the power to shut him down in November of 2020 by disavowing
his paranoid delusions of widespread election fraud. They did not. They sat
silent, or, as in the case of several GOP leaders, actively supported Trump’s
lies and deceit.
Long after dozens of
investigations, lawsuits, recounts, local audits, and electoral certifications – the election
results in all the states that Trump objected to were upheld. This was the opportunity that the GOP leaders
missed. So enamored by Trump’s effect on his white nationalist base following,
these legislators could not free themselves from their own self-interest long
enough to do what was right for America.
A list of those that
supported claims that this was the first election in American history that was
not fair and free, follows. They all need to lose their appointments. To be
voted out of office if they cannot be expelled by the GOP altogether. To make
matters worse, these legislators sided with Trump AFTER the Capital riot was quelled:
Republican Senators who supported Trump’s lies & claims of unfair election:
Josh Hawley (MO)
Cindy Hyde-Smith (MS)
Cynthia Lummis (WY)
John Kennedy (LA)
Roger Marshall (KS)
Rick Scott (FL)
Tommy Tuberville (AL)
Republican House Representatives who supported Trump’s lies & claims of unfair election:
Robert Aderholt (AL)
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Louie Gohmert (TX)
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Alex Mooney (WV)
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