As I watched news coverage of the assault on Washington, like many of you, I am disgusted and disappointed at the current state of affairs in the United States. The events at the Capitol were nothing like I’ve ever seen in history. In fact such violence and treasonous acts had only taken place one other time in 1807.

I cannot help but think what would have happened if the people who assaulted the Capitol were black?

Would they have been able to steal mail off the desk of the Speaker of the House? Would they have been able to break the windows to the chamber of the House of Representatives? Would they have had police pose with them in selfies? NO. They would not even have gotten to the door. We know that.

What we also cannot overlook— if not for the hateful and forceful rhetoric of a sitting president, unprecedented in many ways, those rioters would not have felt empowered to overcome the police at the Capitol, break the building’s windows, force themselves through the doors and proudly strut the Confederate flag down the hall and led to the loss of life.

Yes, it was a very dark day in Washington on January 6, but it was not unforeseeable given the last four years of this presidential administration.

Trump has disgraced the highest office of our nation and shunned the democracy. His immediate removal from office is compulsory. Finally, all responsible for this insurrection and treasonous acts must be held accountable for their actions on January 6, 2021.