On 6 January 2021, Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol building to express their anger at the Republican loss in the 2020 election. The group, consisting predominantly of white people, were seen causing serious damage inside. Despite this, many police officers were unbothered by the events, with some taking selfies with the rioters. This has led to concerns regarding racial discrimination within law enforcement, specifically the alleged preferential treatment given to white individuals, therefore perpetuating white supremacist ideals.
TRUMP’S ROLE IN THE RIOTS
Having been labelled a “coup” by the media, the events at the Capitol are a prime example of racial inequality and indicative of how increasingly problematic it is becoming in America. Some commentators have associated these riots with white supremacy, as the individuals were able to assert their power while law enforcement chose not to intervene. In contrast, those commentators speculated that if these people had been Black, police officers would have acted in a more aggressive manner, due to alleged racial injustice that exists within American law enforcement.
Weeks before the storming of Capitol Hill, Trump tweeted encouragement to his supporters to “be wild” and refuse to accept the election results, as he questioned the legitimacy of the democratic process. Trump was eager for his supporters to display anger and riot, while giving the speech propagating the “stop the steal” rhetoric. This speech led Trump supporters to behave in an aggressive manner, subsequently causing a riot. Once the crowds eventually left, Trump expressed his love and sympathy for his supporters, which many perceive as the former president’s condoning of the behaviour. It has been said that by encouraging this reckless behaviour, Trump provoked the riots.
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
The inaction of Capitol security has led to several officers being suspended for failing to hold rioters accountable for their actions. As a consequence of this, many rioters were not arrested when they broke into the Capitol building. The lack of disciplinary action taken against these white far-right groups by Capitol police has led to allegations of racial discrimination in law enforcement. It is evident that white privilege causes racial divisions as “white privilege sits at the heart of racial injustice”.
SOCIAL MEDIA OUTRAGE
The storming of the Capitol has led to international concern for American democracy. French President, Emmanuel Macron, noted that the vote of the American people must be respected. In Italy, people were shocked by the events, as many people consider America to be a country that celebrates democracy.
Many celebrities, including Pink and Gabrielle Union, took to social media to express their frustration and embarrassment with the events at the Capitol as videos of the white nationalists causing damage circulated online. Moreover, everyday social media users voiced their concerns about the lack of effort from the police to take action against the rioters.
INSTITUTIONAL RACISM
There is a link between police brutality and institutional racism. Many Black lives have been taken by police aggression and racial bias. The killing of George Floyd is a poignant example of police brutality, as officers used excessive force by kneeling on his neck, killing him. It is suggested that police brutality against the Black community is a result of racial bias and of officers stigmatising Black people as deviant. This alleged racial bias informs the way in which police officers treat Black communities. Statistics show that Black men are “2.5 times more likely than white men to be killed by police” and that police officers are more likely to target their guns at Black persons than white people. Moreover, research shows that “Black Americans are two times more likely to be shot and killed”. These figures highlight the racial bias that exists within law enforcement and have led to accusations that police officers are institutionally racist.
The abuse of Black people has contributed to the feelings of isolation and discrimination within this community, resulting in a lack of trust and respect for police. As such, it is evident the American policing system should be reformed to mitigate the possibility of structural racism. Ultimately, we must dismantle toxic law enforcement, which reinforces institutional racism. We must fight for equality everywhere. A system that praises white nationalists and demonises the Black community is a system that is broken and needs to change.
Katie Bedrossian is a recent Sociology graduate from Coventry University. She is passionate about her Armenian heritage and is eager to act as a leader for underrepresented communities. Her specific interests include tackling injustice on gender, race, culture, and immigration. Katie is eager to pursue a career in social change where she believes her ideas can have a positive impact on society.