Tranquillus in Exile
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insurrection
noun, a violent uprising against an authority or government.
On January 6 tens of thousands of partisans, called to Washington by Trump, attacked and overran the US Capitol, the seat of one of the three co-equal branches of Government.
Was it violent? People were killed, and the mob shouted threats like “Hang Pence!”. But the Vice President was in hiding along with every one of the lawmakers, so we don’t know what might have happened.
What was the motive? Those who have explained themselves say they believed Trump wanted them there to “stop the steal” – that is, to subvert the constitutional process of government.
Does Trump bear any responsibility? He followed the events on TV for several hours and did nothing. He apparently thought he was winning, until saner counselors persuaded him that he might be held legally responsible. Then he called it off, and some time later condemned the attackers.
Historical note: Nothing remotely like this has happened since 1814, when the Capitol and the White House were gutted. But that wasn’t an insurrection (see above), it was an act of war in retaliation for the activities of American militias in Canada. The events of Jamuary 6 were unique, and were perceived to be so all over the world (China and Russia made hay with it).
