Thread by @NateAFischer

Some thoughts on the Capitol protest:

First off, LOL at talk of a "coup." Media narrative-pushing has become absurd.

There were some terrible events, including the death of the policeman. Any serious violent crimes should be prosecuted. 1/12

The vast majority of people there were simply peacefully protesting. Some broke the law. As with any protest, any vandalism or trespass was bad and should be treated in line with similar acts at other protests. 2/12

We need details on who did what. It appears the worst activities were committed by a small number of people, and we need to know who they were and what exactly they did. 3/12

We need details on what lines were crossed. Videos show both barriers and doors being opened to protesters, so many who entered the Capitol may have believed they were allowed in. Normally it is a public space, and other protests have taken place there... 4/12

...including during the Kavanaugh confirmation a concerted effort to “occupy” Congressional offices to pressure senators to vote against a Supreme Court nominee. Citizens who believed there was voter fraud were as justified in protesting the electoral certification... 5/12

...as citizens who believed unsubstantiated sexual assault allegations were in protesting Kavanaugh's confirmation. Protests have likewise "occupied" state capitols, such as the 2011 Wisconsin protests, without legal sanction. 6/12

We need explanations of the response. A woman was shot and killed by police—was this justified and necessary? Besides decisions to open barriers/doors, the police were clearly unprepared. 7/12

DC’s mayor and the Capitol Police rejected offers of help from the Pentagon and FBI before and the day of the protests. The way this grew out of control shows the danger of improperly preparing for protests. 8/12

As for Trump's role: I don't believe he incited violence according to the legal definition of the term. I am not endorsing his actions, and I don't know his true beliefs or intent. Trump may have contributed to a culture where some protesters choose to cross the line. 9/12

Other politicians may have too: Kamala Harris supported a bail fund for BLM protesters in June, and Cory Booker once told people to "Go to the Hill today. Get up and please get up in the face of some congresspeople." 10/12

Many people and ideologies have contributed to our tense national culture. It's impossible to know all that leads people to riot. Perhaps the wrong sort of people were listening to the mantras repeated this summer and a few of them felt “unheard”? 11/12

This whole situation is tragic. It reveals a country that is deeply divided, and has lost much of the culture and trust necessary for political unity and republican government. 12/12