The Pictures Of Last Night’s Coup Compared To The Black Lives Matter Protests Speak Volumes About Racism In The US

Last night, a planned-disruption of the US Senate certifying Joe Biden's presidential victory took place. Hoping to put a stop to the certification, the mob supporting Donald Trump - who wore t-shirts with 'Civil War 6th January' written on - stormed the US Capitol Building in a riot that has seen four die.

In the wake of the attack, which Trump supporters call a 'revolution' while others call it acts of terrorism, many have noted the stark comparisons of police reaction. This was a scheduled rally, an obvious attempt at a coup by thousands incited into violence by the words of Donald Trump himself, and yet, the police reaction was beyond lacklustre.

In fact, today 'police let them in' began trending on Twitter as people shared videos of fences being removed in front of police with zero action.

It's a stark comparison to the police reaction to actually peaceful protests for the Black Lives Matter movement over the summer. At the time, Trump repeatedly referred to protestors hoping to encourage reform within the police as 'thugs', 'terrorists' and 'anarchists'. Police were called to line the streets in riot gear, the National Guard stepping in as Trump threatened to use more armed forces to put an end to the largely peaceful demonstrations.

Yesterday however, he told the violent rioters they were 'very special' in a public appearance when asking them to go home peacefully. Unsurprisingly, they didn't. Despite police presence, the mob was able to enter the Capitol building where the US Senate was waiting in fear, destroying US government property and mock the entire government by sitting in the seats of the House Representatives with their feet up. Trump banners and Confederate flags were paraded through abandoned hallways.

Knowing what we do about how racism infects countries around the world, you shouldn't need to see it to believe it - but when you do, the pictures speak volumes. Take a scroll for yourself, in the first gallery, you'll see pictures of last night's riot - the latter, the police response to Black Lives Matter protests.

And now, the Black Lives Matter protests over the summer...

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