Understanding the Insurrection and the Inauguration
On January 6th, 2021, domestic terrorists stormed the capitol in what is being called the insurrection.
These rioters looted, vandalized, and killed a Capitol Police Officer. It was a historical event that surely will go down in infamy, being compared by some news outlets as the younger generation’s 9/11. It was scary, uncertain, and sickening to watch as rioters chanted to kill legislators, carried a confederate flag through the capitol, and wore outfits celebrating the Holocaust.
If you are a person of color, black or indigineous, Jewish, gay, queer, or trans, this attack felt personal.
It was an attack by primarily straight, white, “Christian” people against democracy and human rights. People who don’t believe that those who are different than them deserve rights. People who believe unfounded conspiracies that the election was stolen. People who believe that they are right and that what they did was patriotic. It wasn’t. It was cowardly, anti-democratic, and violent, but that doesn’t take away from the fear that is in the hearts of so many Americans right now, as they watch, seemingly powerless against the attacks on our democracy.
The best thing to do right now is to stay informed. A lot has happened in the past week and a lot will happen in the coming week. On January 13th, the house voted to impeach Donald Trump for his incitement of the insurrection. This made history, as Donald Trump is now the only president to be impeached twice. It is even more important to note that 10 Republican House members voted to impeach, making this a bipartisan effort to remove the sitting president. The articles of impeachment will now be sent to the Senate. For it to pass, the Senate needs to win with a 2/3rd majority of all the senators in the room. However, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is not planning to proceed with Senate hearings until after Biden’s Inauguration.
If Trump is impeached after his presidency, he could lose many presidential perks, but more importantly, an impeachment in the Senate would send a clear message of unity and condemnation against Donald Trump’s actions.
A Senate impeachment is not guaranteed, though. While all Democrats are expected to vote in favor of impeachment, Republicans have been uncertain about where they will stand, but most will probably vote against impeachment. Mitch McConnell holds a lot of power here, and if he decides to vote with the democrats, many republicans could follow him. Right now, there is a lot of speculation, but until the Senate meets, it is unclear what will happen.
The Inauguration will take place on January 20th. Before the president was banned from Twitter, he let us know that he won’t be attending. Vice President Mike Pence, and former presidents Obama, Bush, and Clinton are expected to attend. Secret Service, the FBI, and Biden’s team have already begun heightening security measures for this event, closing metro stations, employing the National Guard, and canceling Biden’s Amtrak ride to D.C.. There are expected protests in all 50 state capitals and D.C..
Unlike the Women’s March or the March for Science, these protests are expected to have armed and irrational protesters. This can be scary and it’s okay to be scared.
There are ways to stay safe during times of unrest. If you live in a major city or capital, be sure to stay at home or in school. Stay away from areas of protest and choose to watch the Inauguration and demonstrations on television rather than in person. Find reliable sources to follow. NPR, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNN are all reliable news sources, although CNN does have a slight liberal bias. Avoid sources like Fox News, Infowars, and sites explicitly geared toward one political spectrum (like Occupy Democrats or Conservative Review). If you have Twitter, follow accounts like the ACLU (@aclu), Chase Strangio (an ACLU lawyer and trans-rights activist, @chasestrangio), Abby Phillip (a CNN correspondent, @AbbyDPhillip), and Stacey Abrams (a democrat and politician who helped flip Georgia blue by registering voters, @staceyabrams).
Be aware of misinformation online. Check the sources people use and see if they are making educated posts or spreading conspiracies and lies. For those who are politically savvy, Twitter and Instagram can be great resources if used correctly and can offer first-hand accounts from reporters, photographers, and citizens during protest.
If the news is too much to handle, taking a step back is another healthy and valid option.
Uninstall social media apps, turn off news alerts, and take an internet detox. Plan to not watch the Inauguration, but instead have a self-care day. Take a bath, read a book, play video games. Do something that makes you happy and helps you feel comforted.
These next couple of weeks will be hard on mental health, and it is important to recognize the signs of distress and do your best to take care of you.
After the Inauguration, unrest can be expected to slow down. Things will fall into routine again, similar to how to protests ceased after Trump’s Inauguration.
Biden will start to implement new policies and plans on day one of his presidency, starting with a Coronavirus task force and vaccine distribution plan. Other tasks during his first 100 days include reentering the Paris climate accord, making the DACA program permanent to insure undocumented migrants aren’t deported, creating a task force to reunite families at the U.S.-Mexico border, and work on criminal justice reform.
His goals are lofty, and many of his plans include reversing policies that Trump has enacted.
The important thing to remember is that President-elect Biden is a public servant who works for the American people, and that you can contact your local representatives, post online, and start petitions if Biden isn’t keeping the promises he made to the American people.
It can be frustrating, especially if you aren’t old enough to vote, to see the world changing and feeling like there is nothing you can do. Luckily, there are ways for young people to get involved.
You can join an issues-based organization that you are passionate about. Whether that is protecting voting rights, a women’s right to choose, or LGBT+ rights, there are volunteer organizations you can join to make your voice heard and make a difference. You can look into phone or text banking for the next election. If you are almost 18, you can see if your state lets you preregister to vote. You can talk to your family and friends about politics and tell them why causes that matter to you are important. Finally, you can use your social platform for good, by sharing resources, petitions, and raise awareness about problems that need fixing.
No matter how young a person is, they are powerful when they speak out.
You are living through history right now. The past year and a half has been filled with uncertainty, but through it all human strength has shone through. You have been alive for half of all impeachments in United States history. You witnessed an insurrection, a global pandemic, and Black Lives Matter protests.
History is moving fast, and it can be exciting, but it can also be scary and stressful. It is truly important now to take care of yourself more than ever. Prioritize your mental health and your physical safety. Spend time with family, pets, talk to friends. Don’t be afraid to ask for support.
It’s okay to not be okay, especially when the world is so uncertain.