In response to Craig Gerson Wofsy’s letter of Jan. 12: There is a difference in the response to the Black Lives Matter protests and the Jan. 6 riot for an obvious reason. The BLM movement was in response to an actual problem. Breonna Taylor, Trayvon Martin, George Floyd, and others are really dead, as opposed to protesting an election which in fact was not stolen. Not stolen, according to close to 60 judges, an attorney general, and several other government agencies.
The other situations that you mentioned were handled as they were more because of the president’s complete inability to recognize honorable behavior or to rise to the level of his office than to any power grab.
As to damage caused by the BLM’s demonstrations, it is wrong to use a peaceful demonstration as an excuse to loot or pillage. But in the BLM case, the violence came about after years of seeking change through peaceful, legal means. The riot at the Capitol was directly related to one person’s inability to accept a fact not to his liking. His concerns are for himself only, and it is a shame that millions think he cares about them.
One final comment: Property damage is not ever to be condoned but to damage an institution that is as precious to our country – even to the world – as the Capitol is almost sacrilegious. There may have been some peaceful demonstrators in that mob but the presence of Nazi symbols seems to contradict that thought. It was a despicable event not to be excused for any reason.
SUSANNE WHITBECK
Pembroke