Tag: US insurrection

An assault on America’s Democracy: A perspective from an American Freelance Journalist

“Democracy will always win in America – and that’s something outgoing President Tump can never take away.”
– Freelance Journalist, Jessica Noel Quinlan

©Stock image – 216021430  – by Andrea Izzotti

January 6, 2020 – a day that was suppose to be filled with hope and celebration, quickly became a day filled with an hatred and anger as a mob stormed the US Capitol in an attempt to interrupt the certification of President-elect Joseph R. Biden as the winner of the US 2020 Election and to somehow overturn the election results. 

Being an American, I was not only heartbroken to see just how divided the United States of America has truly become, but I was also appalled to see how much of an influence outgoing President Donald J. Trump had on his supporters by encouraging extremism groups – for example, ‘The Proud Boys‘ and the ‘QAnon members – right-wing extremism domestic terrorist groups, who are people who have listened to Trumps conspiracy theories such as the voter fraud claims.

At a rally – right before the certification at the US Capitol – Mr. Trump told his supporters, “Let’s march to the Capitol to take back our country, because you can never show weakness, you have to show strength.” 

These commands not only gave his supporters the fuel they needed to “fight like hell” as instructed by Outgoing President Trump, but it also lead them to the insurrection of the US Capitol. 

So this nonetheless, is proof that Outgoing President Trump did incite the insurrection of the US Capitol by encouraging his supporters to interrupt Congresses duty to the American people, which is in accordance to the Electoral Count Act of 1887.  

Video featured below: Trump’s speech at rally right before the insurrection of the US Capitol on January 6, 2020.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fiT6c0MQ58

I was horrified as a I watched what was happening on my television from afar – here in the UK –  of these so-called “American people” who laid siege to the US Capitol. 

They called themselves “Patriots”, but in reality – they were Domestic Terrorist’s. 

I honestly just felt sick to my stomach. I wanted to  throw up. I could not believe what I was seeing. 

Video featured below: CNN footage captured of the mob storming the US Capitol.

https://journojess.com/us-insurrection-quicktime-mov/

As I watched the domestic terrorists breach the US capitol shouting, ‘Hang Mike Pence’, ‘Stop the Steal’, ‘USA’, and ‘We want Trump’ – it broke my heart to see how many Americans believed these lies of voter fraud and how they could turn their back on their country in the way they were.

Video featured below: Viewer discretion is advised as the video contains sensitive information.

 

These so-called “Americans” thought they were doing  the  “American thing” by attempting to overturn the US 2020 election results, because they truly believed there was election fraud – even though several states had done a recount, which did not change the outcome of the election. 

The domestic terrorist broke windows, vandalised offices, took pictures of sensitive government documents, stole laptops, took pictures of one another posing at desks, and threatened the lives of members of Congress – it was beyond the Un-American thing to do and it was clearly domestic terrorism.

Video featured below: CNN footage of mob breaking windows of US Capitol.

https://videos.files.wordpress.com/ACsYa3C4/breaking-into-windows-quicktime_hd.mp4

There was one moment in particular in which a police officer – Eugene Goodman – lead the mob away from the Senate Chamber in order to protect Members of Congress who had not gotten to safety quite yet. 

This man will forever and always be appreciated for his bravery and did receive a Congressional Gold Medal for his bravery, because  he saved many lives by doing so that day. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest award a civilian can receive.

“He’s a hero!

The United States Capitol was under attack by armed, violent extremists, and Officer Eugene Goodman was the only thing standing between the mob and the United States Senate. 

I shudder to think what might have happened had it not been for Officer Goodman’s fast thinking and commitment to his duty and his country.

 While some will remember last Wednesday for the very worst in our country, the patriotism and heroics of Officer Eugene Goodman renew my faith and remind us all what truly makes the United States great.”

-U.S. Representatives Charlie Crist

Video featured below: Police officer Eugene Goodman who lead mob away from the Senate Chamber.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFzx1FJia94

“In moments of crisis, there are always individuals who rise to the occasion and put themselves in harm’s way in defence of others. 

On January 6, 2021, one of those individuals was Officer Eugene Goodman.

If not for the quick, decisive, and heroic actions from Officer Goodman, the tragedy of last week’s insurrection could have multiplied in magnitude to levels never before seen in American history. 

With this prestigious award, we can show our gratitude to Officer Goodman for saving countless lives and defending our democracy.”

-Congressman, Emanuel Cleaver

Normally in situations like this the President would have immediately called the National Guard to handle the mob; however, Outgoing President – Donald J. Trump – did no such thing.

Instead, he was on Twitter. He was excited to see the chaos he had created.

It’s truly appalling to me how oblivious Outgoing President Trump was that by him encouraging his supporters to “march to the US Capitol in an attempt to overturn the US 2020 Election” wasn’t going to lead to an insurrection of the US Capitol and inflict violence and harm to many American’s.

This siege went on for about 6 hours. 

It wasn’t until President-elect Joesph R. Biden went on National television to plead to Outgoing President Donald J. Trump to put an end to this insurrection. 

Video featured below: President-elect Joesph R. Biden’s address to Outgoing President Donald J. Trump to tell his supporters to go home and put an end to the siege of the US Capitol. 

https://journojess.com/biden-pleads-to-trump-quicktime-mov/

Fortunately, after President-elect Biden’s address to Outgoing President Trump, Trump did decide to do the right thing and did go on National Television to do just that.

On the other hand, Outgoing President Trump’s response was a response that wasn’t at all that unexpected in that he continued to reiterate the voter fraud lies he had been telling his supporters since the confirmation of President-elect Joesph R. Biden’s win. On the other hand, fortunately,  he did tell his supporters, “it’s time to go home now.”

“I know your pain. I know your hurt. We had an election that was stolen from us. 

It was a landslide election and everyone  knows it. 

Especially the other side.

But you have to go home now. We have to have peace. We have to have law and order and respect our great people of law and order. 

We don’t want anyone hurt.”

-Outgoing President of the United States of America Donald Trump

Video featured below: Outgoing President Donald Trump address to his supporters who stormed the US Capitol. 

https://videos.files.wordpress.com/PrZMiPbL/trumps-says-go-home-cut-2-quicktime_hd.mp4

I believe that by Outgoing President Trump reiterating the lies he had been telling his supporters just reignited the fire that was burning within them. It just gave them all the more ammunition they needed to continue to stay and “fight like hell” as their loyalty to Outgoing President Trump.

Even though Mr. Trump said in his address, “we don’t want anyone hurt” blood was shed – 5 people died, one was a police officer, the others were protestors.

As the chaos continued, and with considerations to the fact that National Guard had not shown up yet, Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser issued a 6 p.m. curfew in order to clear people off the streets of Washington D.C., especially at or around the US Capitol.

As the curfew set in – the Police officers and the National Guard took to the streets to  begin clearing the streets of Washington D.C., especially at or around the US Capitol.

I watched the news late into the night as the Washington Police and the US National Guard continued in their efforts to bring an end to the insurrection.

Video featured below: The chaos of the mob as it continued into the night.

https://journojess.com/into-the-night-quicktime-mov/

Despite the mobs best efforts to stop the certification of Joseph R. Biden as the winner of the US 2020 Election, Congress did resume to count the electoral votes and they did certify that Joseph R. Biden was the winner of the US 2020 election.

“They tried to disrupt our democracy – they failed. 

They failed to obstruct Congress.

This failed insurrection only scores how crucial the task before us is for our republic.

Our nation was founded precisely so that the free choice and people is what shapes our self-government and determines our destiny of our nation.

Not fear. Not for us. But the peaceful expression of the popular will.”

– Senator of the United States of America, Mitch McConnell Jr. 

After the certification of Joseph R. Biden’s win of the US 2020 Election, outgoing Vice President Mike Pence delivered a message of the certification and the insurrection on the US Capitol:

“Violence never wins. Freedom wins, and this is still the people’s house.”

In the end of this violent insurrection on the US Capitol, the American people who voted in a free and fair election did have their voices heard and Joseph R. Biden was declared as the winner of the US 2020 election. 

 January 6, 2020 – America’s democracy won that day.

US 2020 Election

©Stock image – 1849311598

“The will of the people has been heeded,”

We’ve learned again that democracy is precious.

Democracy is fragile.

And at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed.”

– President of the United States of America, Joesph R. Biden

By Freelance Journalist, Jessica Noel Quinlan
Updated: January 23, 2021