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The one "Insurrection" video you MUST see.
@NewYorker reporter @LukeMogelson
followed Trump supporters as they forced their way into the Senate chamber.
Some quick thoughts... #Thread #INTL4335 https://www.newyorker.com/news/video-dept/a-reporters-footage-from-inside-the-capitol-siege?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=onsite-share&utm_brand=the-new-yorker&utm_social-type=earned
@NewYorker reporter @LukeMogelson
followed Trump supporters as they forced their way into the Senate chamber.
Some quick thoughts... #Thread #INTL4335 https://www.newyorker.com/news/video-dept/a-reporters-footage-from-inside-the-capitol-siege?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=onsite-share&utm_brand=the-new-yorker&utm_social-type=earned
1. Except for race, the crowd is incredibly diverse -- age, education, far-right subculture, region, even gender (although less so those inside the Capitol).
2. The media does a disservice to understanding of far right and its threat by primarily using pictures of faceless mobs or of exceptional people -- notably the "QAnon Shaman". Many are people like your (and definitely my) neighbors and students (or their parents).
3. Christianity is MAJOR part of this! Religious Right has further radicalized in past decades and has become closely intertwined with Trump and even QAnon (not really new, as RR and white supremacy have long history together). Needs much more attention and discussion.
4. Even the "QAnon Shaman", whose bodies is inked with pagan symbols, seems very well steeped in Christianity.
5. Crowd is divided over the police. Undoubtedly related to how much they consider themselves part of mainstream or not and how often they have demonstrated. But make no mistake, support for "the blue" is only on THEIR terms.
6. This was a clear example of mob frenzy, in which many people have done and shouted things they would never (dare or want to) do and shout by themselves or in small groups. Many will probably have never done anything so brazen and well never do it again.
7. This is not to excuse or minimize it, but the vast majority are not Trump's "Stormtroopers". They felt safe, protected, entitled, above the law. Not too many will be willingly paying the price for their activism (see below) https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/jenna-ryan-trump-pardon-capitol-riot-b1788395.html
8. The police performance is absolutely shocking. Clearly, US Capitol Police has little to no experience with riots and serious crowd control. Many officers are way out of their depth and should be mall cops (in high-end areas).
9. Many rioters feel superior in terms of knowledge, but are poorly informed about day-to-day events and politics, and mainly act on emotion and instinct rather than ideology.
10. Many within the American (far) right have a very capitalist understanding of democracy. We pay taxes therefore we OWN the institutions, politicians, etc.
11. White supremacy is so ingrained and normalized that it does not have to be expressed explicitly. It is striking how little open reference there is to race, but the underlying assumption is that "we" are white.
12. There is NO doubt that nearly all feel that they are doing Trump's work and that they have friends inside (Cruz & Hawley). They are not "anti-government" or even "anti-state", this was a "partisan" attack (with Trump/ism being the party).
13. I have no allegiance to this country, or particularly warm feelings to it and its democratic institutions (like my US wife), but even for me this was an incredible and uncomfortable watch. This attack should NEVER be minimized, let alone normalized.
14. While similar processes play out in Europe, and far-right attacks and threats against state institutions and representatives are now commonplace in many countries, the US is in a far worse spot than any European country (bar Hungary and Poland). https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/07/what-happened-in-washington-dc-is-happening-around-the-world
15. This is, of course, because of the weapons laws here but also because of decades of ignoring or minimizing far-right threat under pressure from Republicans.
16. This all notwithstanding, things can change fundamentally, and relatively fast, IF the Biden administration make this a priority and will not be intimidated by Republicans.
17. Yes, US law enforcement and military have a serious far-right problem (few countries do not) but DHS and FBI have long been aware of far-right threat and have, by and large, taken it serious.
18. But without political cover and support, few in law enforcement and military will risk their neck going after the far-right -- except for the politically and socially isolated, like Klansmen and neo-Nazis.
19. Which brings me back to the "QAnon Shaman". By externalizing the far right, and linking it (visually) to freaks and marginal people and phenomena, the far-right mainstream, because that's what it has become, is normalized and white-washed.
20. But real far-right threat does not come from "QAnon Shaman", it comes from within mainstream of society. And it is strengthened by our often cowardly and opportunistic lack of opposition and resistance to their claims and complaints (myself included). #TheEnd
