We are still reeling from the videos and images of the siege on the U.S. Capitol while also becoming aware of how much worse it could have been, and law-abiding citizens across the nation are now demanding accountability. The events of Jan. 6, 2021 are in sharp contrast to another gathering almost four years ago on Jan. 21, 2017.
The 2016 election of Donald J. Trump to the United States presidency was a moment of disbelief for many who did not vote for him as they grappled with the certainty that a reality-television star who displayed open hostility toward women and marginalized minority groups had just ascended to the highest office in the land. Through this fog of dismay, they organized — mostly online — and descended on our nation’s capital as part of the largest single-day gatherings ever across the world. Despite the historic numbers, in cities across the globe these marches were peaceful, unifying and even inspiring. READ MORE >>
By Anjali Mehrotra and Marci Bandelli, Guest Columnists, NJ Spotlight
Originally Published in NJ Spotlight on January 15, 2021