Words Matter: Thoughtful Pieces on January 6th
The insurrection of the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, 2021 was not a protest gone bad. It was not a patriotic act. It was not planned or instigated by left wing radicals, Democrats, or the FBI. It was, pure and simple, an act of domestic terrorism. Today, we offer a suggested reading list for all truly patriotic Americans. As we are about to enter a period of true test for our democracy, the words of scholars, public servants, legal experts, and passionate historians should inspire each of us to participate as informed and knowledgeable citizens to preserve our Founders’ dream.
“I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.”
Final Report of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol
845 Pages: Less than a typical novel, more than your average news article, this well written overview of the events, evidence, and testimonies of this tragic day are clearly layed out for all to see.
Jan. 6, Seen in Comparative Perspective, Shows How Far Democracy Has Declined in America
By Ruth Ben-Ghiat, world renown expert on authoritarianism.
The Week Ahead
By Joyce Vance, Law Professor & former US Atty, Fed’l prosecutor.
“January 6 should be the day we recommit to democracy, every single year. It must not become they day we forget about it.”
A Coup in Plain Sight
Short documentary by The Meidas Touch walking through the planning & execution of the January 6th Insurrection
What Really Happened with the First Officer Suicide After Jan. 6
By Luke Mullins, for Politico
“This is about Howie,” Serena said, “but it’s also about all of these other families and law enforcement officers who died by suicide.”
Jan 5 Full interview with Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi
Interview by Margaret Brennan on Face the Nation
“I do think it will have a negative impact on people running for public office.”
January 5, 2025 Essay
By Dr. Heather Cox Richardson
“The vision of the U.S. as a hellscape that can only be fixed by purging the government of Democrats does not reflect reality.”
Trump and the January 6 Memory Hole
Podcast by Radio Atlantic, featuring Senator Jamie Raskin, interviewed by Hanna Rosin
“The point for them is to confuse people and to destroy the moral clarity of what happened. But it was perfectly clear what happened on that day.”
Jan 6th Rioters Claim They're Like the Patriots of 1776. Here's the Ugly Truth.
By Andrew Lawler, Author
“They’re right that there are historical echoes—just not the ones they intend.“
Four years after Jan. 6 Capitol riot, polls show some attitudes softening
By Scott Blanchard, for the Christian Science Monitor
“…it’s very telling just how divided the country is and just how many people believe the rule of law is completely shattered. That’s not a good sign for democracy.“
Our National Day of Shame
By William Kristol & Andrew Egger
“…will some Republican senators put country before party, enabling the Senate to set up some roadblocks to our steep descent on a path towards an Orwellian and authoritarian future?“
Defending The Truth About Jan 6th
By former House Representative Adam Kinzinger
“Trump, the most brilliant and malicious propagandist in American history, relentlessly repeated the lie that January 6 wasn’t an attack but a ‘simple protest’ gone wrong…“
I Was Nearly Killed on Jan. 6th. Four Years Later, I Feel Betrayed All Over Again
By Aquilino Gonell, 25 year veteran law enforcement officer & member of the Capitol Police.
We May Not Have a Democracy for Much Longer
Interview/podcast with Senator Chris Murphy, D-CT
“Democrats need to sound the alarm before it’s too late, lest Trump’s attacks on democracy prove ‘fatal.’”