Very few people have defended the rioting at the U.S. Capitol. It was wrong in every way, and people need to go to jail.
State Representative Chris England (D-Tuscaloosa), the chairman of the Alabama Democratic Party, seems to agree, even if he got a few facts wrong.
If Wednesday was the final act of Donald Trump’s circus, @RepMoBrooks is one of the ringmasters. For weeks now, he has been lying to the public and whipping people into a frenzy that he and crew were going to “stop the steal” Wednesday.
— Chris England (@RepEngland70) January 8, 2021
There are now bullet holes in the Capitol. Windows were busted and offices were vandalized. Bombs were found around the building. Mo’s “Patriots” showed up with guns, Molotov cocktails and zip ties to help him kick ass and “stop the steal”. Blood was shed on the Capitol grounds.
— Chris England (@RepEngland70) January 8, 2021
He has now apparently changed his mind, and according to aldotcom, the Alabama Democratic Party is right there with him.
Their headline states, “Alabama Democrats on rioting felony legislation: ‘How should Black people express their frustration?’”
When I read this, I thought the Alabama Democrat who said that was George Wallace being racist by implying that black people are unable to express themselves without violence.
But, no, this is actually the head of the Alabama Democratic Party today, and this is odd.
England is objecting to a piece of legislation that would make it a felony to riot and destroy property, require those charged with the crime not be released directly back into the streets, as has happened, and deny them the right to hold public office.
England’s objection seems to be predicated on a Martin Luther King, Jr. quote about the riots being the voice of the unheard.
Riots are socially destructive and self-defeating. But in the final analysis, a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it that America has failed to hear? It has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice.
OK, so if you are keeping score, rioting and destruction are fine if you are mad about a Confederate memorial or police in Minnesota, but if you are upset about what you perceive as a stolen election, a riot is unacceptable.
England ignores that those at the U.S. Capitol felt, and many still feel, the 2020 election was not on the up and up.
Of course, the avenue for that redress was lawfully challenging Electoral College votes in Congress, courtrooms and state legislatures all over the country.
Violence in the streets is never the answer.
This is a silly position for England to take. Both examples of rioting are wrong. His racial angle is just embarrassing.
England should make it clear that all political violence is wrong, and his failure to do this shows the hypocrisy on the American left that allowed cities in America to burn over the last few years is still alive and well after the riots on January 6.
If the media and their Democrats continue pretending there is acceptable political violence, they will get more of it.
Dale Jackson is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 7-11 AM weekdays on WVNN.
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.