But what those sickening video and audio clips displayed — outnumbered law enforcement officers beaten unmercifully — was brutality, not strength. The weapon reportedly used on Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, honored in the Capitol Rotunda this week, who died from injuries sustained during the pro-Trump riot? A fire extinguisher. The Capitol Police union has said that about 140 officers suffered injuries, including cracked ribs and smashed spinal discs.
Do blue lives matter only in opposition to Black lives? Does a crowd dominated by white criminals get a pass when it comes to breaking laws and sowing disorder? From Florida, Trump is silent on that question as he reportedly continues to proclaim the election lie that sustained his supporters and while the Biden Justice Department plays catch-up on the threat of white supremacists downplayed under Trump.
The patriot party
No more the party of “patriots,” not when a retired Army lieutenant general and Trump confidant floated the idea of martial law, making a mockery of every oath he swore allegiance to. You’d think disgraced former national security adviser Michael Flynn would have stayed out of sight for a while after admitting to lying to the FBI and winning a “get out of jail free” card from his buddy Trump. Instead, he continued doubling down on false claims of a stolen election.
Add to that a president who threw in with the law-breakers who toted the flag of traitors, the Confederate battle flag, inside the Capitol and used the Stars and Stripes as a blunt instrument. “We love you,” Trump tweeted.
