False Comparison: BLM Protests and the January 6 Insurrection Are Not Equivalent

We keep hearing it, and it needs to stop. People need to quit making false comparisons and claiming false equivalencies between the January 6 violent insurrection at the Capitol to Black Lives Matter protests that a few times unfortunately turned violent. Vandalism and property theft to businesses during protests have been happening since Revolutionary times – they are nothing new. Starting with the original Boston Tea Party – the tea that was dumped overboard was not government tea, nor from a government ship. Both were the property of the East India Tea Company.

By contrast, inciting and trying to carry out insurrection, threatening to take hostage and murder members of Congress and the Vice-President in an effort to overturn a valid election result – basically a violent coup, and one that was encouraged and celebrated by the sitting POTUS – now that is extremely rare within U.S. history. The Civil War is really the only comparison, and even that was neither incited nor supported by the president at the time – indeed Lincoln would condemn and disown these violent, Trump worshipers who did not just seek to peacefully protest the election result or take over the Republican party, but to overthrow our federal republic itself.

In short, one can sympathize with and defend the Black Lives Matter cause while condemning any violence or vandalism that occurred during BLM protests. You cannot say that about the January 6 insurrectionists. They planted bombs, attacked and injured over 100 police officers, outright murdering one – and two other officers committed suicide in the days following the insurrection. The mob’s leaders erected gallows on the Capitol lawn and violently broke into the building with the intent to intimidate, take hostages, and force the election Trump’s way – and several even intended to carry out the assassinations of Vice President Pence and U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. The mob’s motivation was completely misguided, threatened lawmakers’ lives (not just property) and the integrity of our entire government itself, and was fueled by lies the President told.

Finally, it is worth noting that there were no neo-Nazis or white supremacists leading or being celebrated within the ranks of Black Lives Matter protesters. There were plenty within the January 6 insurrectionist crowd. When you are following the lead of, marching or socializing with, or even defending or making excuses for Nazis in person or on social media, it’s pretty clear that you have surrendered the moral high ground and need to re-examine your own beliefs and social circle.

https://www.npr.org/2021/02/07/964705339/more-than-a-month-later-its-still-january-6-on-capitol-hill

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/60-minutes-united-states-capitol-riots-2021-01-17/

https://apnews.com/article/white-supremacy-threats-capitol-riots-2d4ba4d1a3d55197489d773b3e0b0f32