David Miller: Are peaceful protests about election integrity ever 'wild'?

To The Daily Sun,

On Jan. 6, 2021 in Washington, D.C., there was a peaceful protest about “election integrity” with a rally hosted by the losing candidate in the 2020 election headlining. The host claimed, and still claims, wide-scale election fraud existed which "stole the election" without any substantive evidence of the alleged fraud ever being provided. Participants were invited via Twitter with, "Be there, will be wild!”

Are peaceful protests about election integrity ever “wild”?

At this rally the host said, “We will never give up. We will never concede. It doesn't happen.” and “If you don't fight like hell you're not going to have a country anymore.” He also said to go peacefully and patriotically, but the fuse was already lit.

There was a violent protest. Barricades and police lines were overrun as protesters fought and threw things at officers; this occurred ~19 minutes before the host finished his rally speech.

There was a riot. Police battled extremely violent protesters for over an hour before being overpowered and not once did the president of the United States order in the National Guard to assist local authorities; he watched for hours before asking participants to leave, what was he waiting for?

There was an insurrection — “a violent uprising against an authority or government” — in utilizing false claims of election fraud to incite supporters to violence in a last minute effort to delay, while simultaneously seeking to submit unlawful alternate elector certificates, the election certification process being finalized by Vice President Mike Pence and Congress. Chants of “Hang Mike Pence!” with a gallows erected outside show the crowd's intention on stopping the process, even by killing the vice president.

“The mob was fed lies. They were provoked by the president and other powerful people.” — then Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Republican).

David Miller

Meredith