[Thread] Inspired by @sarahchurchwell to share my warnings from the past, not in an "I told you so" manner, but as a justification of the really important work that A LOT of historians have been doing in these dark times.
A journey down (bad) memory lane. . .
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Nearly 140 officers were injured during pro-Trump extremists' Capitol siege \u2014 including officers who sustained brain injuries, smashed spinal discs, one who'll likely lose an eye, and another stabbed with a metal fence stake, the Capitol Police union said.https://t.co/D9jFSkKtJm
— NPR (@NPR) January 28, 2021
You can tell a lot about the stance of a angry crowd by whether they come with shields or pitchforks.
If people protesting police brutality for years had wanted to use their large numbers to attack, maim and kill police, they damn well could have.
But they came to resist police.
Which is completely different.
Why did the police suffer more at the hands of those who claimed to support them and waved their flags than at the hands of those who think they should be defunded or abolished?
Because one group is literally arguing for human dignity and the other glorifies violence.
The people who uncritically support police brutality are those who believe that instrumental violence should be a standard tool in response to those standing opposed to you.
Once you accept that... WHO is standing opposed to you doesn't matter much.
We also know from video and public reporting that there were two groups that stormed the capitol. 1) weird-ass bystanders and 2) possibly armed ex-military members with tactical gear and flex cuffs 2/
After reviewing a lot of footage there seem to be 2 types of ppl at the #capitolbreach.
— John Scott-Railton (@jsrailton) January 7, 2021
Group 1: Selfies. Unsure what to do once inside #CapitolBuilding
Group 2: Purposeful. men who know each other & head for senate floor w/tactical gear & backpacks. https://t.co/3vAdxdlNZh
We also know there was a failed coup attempt in Venezuela orchestrated by Giuliani and former members of Blackwater, an Erik Prince joint. 3/
We also know that Giuliani met with Brian Benczkowski and Bill Barr to lobby for for help to go easy on his Venezuelan pal. Benczkowski is a former Alfa Bank rep. 4/
Further, we know that Erik Prince is the brother of Betsy DeVos (who JUST resigned) and the former head of Blackwater. We also know that the day before the insurrection, a memo was sent out to knee-cap the federal police in DC. 5/
In light of yesterday's violent display of Christian nationalism at the Capitol, what should we watch for from the Christian Right in 2021?
— Chrissy Stroop in the winter of our discontent (@C_Stroop) January 7, 2021
And how can we effectively direct our advocacy and activism?
If you're asking those questions, read my latest:https://t.co/6eQqdMHBBX
My hometown is Alamogordo, New Mexico. It's a military town. Holloman Air Force base is nearby, and so is the Army's White Sands Missile Range. It's also a hotbed of White Evangelical Christian Nationalism. 2/
Currently, the most notorious Christian Nationalist from Alamogordo that I can think of is Couy Griffin (no relation to me). He's a former pastor, turned County Commissioner, and founder of the group "Cowboys for Trump." I've talked about him before.
*Heavy Sigh* This chucklehead, Couy Griffin is from the town I was born in and grew up in. I know folks in his family. This is my roots. This is the kind of nonsense I left. 1/ https://t.co/TQV9xtgMKT
— Daniel Griffin (@HC_Exvangelical) May 21, 2020
Couy Griffin and his Cowboys for Trump attended the the Coup Klux Klan in D.C. I'm not surprised. They went prepared for extremism. Here's a quick video of them outside the kitschy "Running Indian" trading post just outside Alamogordo. 4/

Notice what they say. "Give me liberty or give me death" and "We've god God on our side, and we've got the Truth on our side." Probably every Ex-evangelical I know has heard those words in church. 5/