The day began bright and hopeful. One of the run off races in Georgia had been called for the democrats, the second democratic candidate had a promising lead. Biden would have the majority, however slim, of both houses, something necessary to advance his agenda and move our country forward out of it's 4 year long nightmare. Work was routine, goods were delivered and put away, customers were assisted. I took a break and turned on my phone.
The sense of hope began to unravel. There were messages and alerts. A mob, thousands strong, had, under the instigation of the President and other speakers at a rally, marched to and stormed our nation's Capital building. Members of our House of Representatives were forced to lie on the floor for safety until they, and members of the Senate, could be evacuated. Several said later they feared for their lives as the frenzied mob roamed and ransacked what is sometimes referred to as the temple of our Republic.
Although some fought valiantly, 60 were sent to hospitals with injuries, several members of the police seemed complacent as the mob, mostly white, rampaged. The National Guard had to be deployed by the Vice President as the President phoned Congressmen during the melee, still asking them to overturn the election and tweeting "I love you, You're very special" to the rioters attempting to stage a violent coup.
Only once before has our Capital building been defiled in this way, in retaliation for our actions in 1814 when we were at war with another country. Now, it appeared, we were at war with ourselves. Followers of an obviously insane "messiah" battling those who honor decency and peace, those who want to live in a country that values kindness, a country where many want to work for the good of all it's people.
That night, as Congress reconvened, some that had sought to contest the results of the election had stepped down from their bully pulpit. They had witnessed, first hand, what awaited the country if they continued forward with their platform of division and hate. 6 dead, one of them a police officer murdered by a blow to the head from a fire extinguisher, the Capital littered. A poignant photo went viral of a member of the House picking up refuse from a hallway at 1 a.m.
Still, over 100 members of Congress voted in the aftermath of the attack to contest the election, refusing to recognize or take responsibility for their actions. Say their names, do not forget.
