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| By Tyler Merbler from USA - DSC09156, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=98780310 |
Violence is not how we solve problems in a Democracy based on "the rule of law". I am speaking up because I do not want to see people hurt, and I do not want to live with the guilt of knowing that I saw what was happening, but didn't speak up. Let's take a closer look at the events of the last couple of weeks.
Voter Fraud
- I was shocked when I listened to part of the recording of Trump's hour long phone call with Brad Raffensperger, Georgia's Secretary of State. I heard our president pressuring the Secretary of State to be a "loyal" Republican and "find" him votes, so he could overturn the Presidential election results. I thought, now the people will see that the only documented "voter fraud" has been Trump's own actions.
- When confronted with his illegal actions, Trump simply diverted attention from himself by stating that the Georgia Secretary of State did not reply to his accusations of voter fraud within his state which Brad Raffensperger had already disproved three times. Amazingly, many people were quickly pointing their fingers at Brad Raffensperger instead of holding Trump accountable for his actions.
Inciting an Insurrection
- On December 18, 2020 Trump used the social media platform, Twitter, to encourage protesters to come to Washington D.C. He Tweeted, "Big protest in D.C. on January 6th. Be there, will be wild!"
- On January 6, 2021, Trump incited insurrection using these words in a rally held near our nation's Capitol building where he told his followers that we can't let the counting of the Electoral College votes happen. He told them to "fight. We fight like hell. And if you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country anymore."; to have the "pride and boldness that they need to take back our country".; "you'll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength, and you have to be strong. We have come to demand that Congress do the right thing and only count the electors who have been lawfully slated."; "We’ve got to get rid of the weak Congresspeople, the ones that aren’t any good"; to "fight much harder against 'bad people' "; telling his group that "you are allowed to go by very different rules"; and telling his followers that they are "not going to take it any longer".
Not Providing Necessary Security
- It was well known that some violent groups might be at the January 6th rally.
- As President, Trump did not encourage, or provide, the necessary police presence which likely would have avoided the riot.
- As President, Trump did not have National Guard troops readily available to aid the Capitol police.
- When the protestors pushed past the fence which surrounded the Capitol building and climbed up the walls to congregate near the buildings' doors - Trump took no action.
- After the rioters broke into the Capitol building - Trump took no action.
- It was only after the rioters had vandalized our Capitol building for three hours and threatened our Congresspeople, and after President-elect Biden called on Trump to "immediately" call off his supporters, that Trump finally told his people to go home peacefully, but only after assuring the rioters that, "We love you".
Accountability
- Five people, including one policeman, died in the attack on our Capitol building.
- There was gross security negligence.
- When confronted with his actions, Trump replied,"These are the things and events that happen" when our "evil" Congress do not do what he wanted, which was to force our Congress to "steal" the election from the majority of the voters and from the Electoral College and give the election to him.
- Again diverting his supporters' attention from his crimes, Trump incited anger against the media platforms for banning him from using their platforms to incite further violence against our legally elected government. It looks like the social media platforms aren't willing to be charged with supporting insurrection. Are you?
Impeachment for Inciting Violence
- In 2019, Trump's first impeachment was for charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
- Trump's current impeachment is for incitement of insurrection
- Instead of holding Trump accountable for his actions, many people are calling his acts "justified".
- 18 US Code SS 2383- Rebellion or Insurrection - "Whoever incites, sets on foot, assists, or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States or the laws thereof, or gives aid or comfort thereto, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States." (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 808; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.) https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2383
Further Violence Anticipated
- The "rightness" of our taking up arms in 1776 against the tyranny of King George is being used as an excuse to justify Trump's supporters' actions in trying to violently overthrow our legally elected government just because Trump didn't win.
- Trump's inability to gracefully accept political defeat is definitely NOT a justifiable rallying "cause" worth the lives of five people or the sacrifice of many more American lives.
- Also, many believe that they must "fight Communism". Where? Are they claiming that Biden, who served as our 47th Vice-President, is going to set himself up as a Communist dictator? Where is the documentation for such fear flaming and character defamation?
- Posters are presently being circulated online declaring that “Freedom is a right”. Another flyer says, “Refuse to be silenced”.
- Protests against the legal and certified election results are planned to take place at the capitol buildings of all 50 states on or before the day of the Presidential Inauguration on January 20.
Supporters who are continuing to refuse to hold Trump accountable for his actions and who continue to enable Trump's efforts to seize control of the government of the United States through insurrection, may have to live with the knowledge of the part they played in creating a violent confrontations or even a civil war. Even if they are "just" posting videos and posts, they are still flaming insurrection against our legal government.
Of course our right to free speech should be defended, and people should be allowed to peacefully protest in an effort to improve our government, but supporting an insurrection does not make you a "noble patriot". If you show support in any way to a man whom our House of Representatives has charged with "incitement of insurrection", then you are also responsible for the death, injuries, and damage that have, and may again occur as part of that rebellion against our legally elected government.
Now that the election results are in, the disputes addressed in courts, and the Electoral College vote counted and certified by Congress, it is no longer appropriate to display Trump flags, yard signs, or share posts and videos that support having Trump as President. He lost. In a Democracy, the contest is over. We do not use force to change election results. We do not create an insurrection to "steal" the election; only a dictator would do such a thing.
At this time when we are turning over our government's leadership, let us unite to support our new President as loyal Americans have done for over two hundred years. Let us make this a peaceful event and a celebration of democracy. Let us remember that only by working together, not by using force, can we make truly "make America great".
I listened to Trump's talks and took notes. I also watched his speeches again online and read Trump's Tweets. Here are a few good places for information.
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