January 6th, 2021 a day that left many Americans fearful and questioning the strength of American democracy and the possibility of a peaceful transition of power. The insurrection was based upon a lie that the 2020 election was stolen due to voter fraud. Over a year later, the events that occurred on Capitol Hill continue to be infiltrated with false information. It’s crucial that these enduring lies are addressed and the insurrection is remembered for what it truly was: a riot that represents the antithesis of patriotism.

Lie: People held a peaceful protest at the Capitol in response to a fraudulent election

In the history of American elections, voter fraud has been proved on 1,340 separate occurrences and criminally convicted 1,152 times. Occuring at such a small scale, the results of the Electoral College could not have been impacted given Biden’s sizable 306-232 victory. Additionally, a typical protest does not include over 140 police officers being hurt or assaulted in some fashion.

Lie: The rioters were unarmed

In a recent statement on October 21st, 2021 from Donald Trump, he claimed that January 6th was a “completely unarmed protest.” At the end of December, the Department of Justice released an official report stating that over 75 individuals have been charged with “entering a restricted area with a dangerous or deadly weapon.” These weapons ranged from baseball bats to semi-automatic handguns. Additionally, Cleveland Meredith Jr. was recently convicted for threatening to kill Representative Nancy Pelosi after driving from Colorado to Washington with a rifle and handgun.

Lie: Nonviolent protesters are being unfairly prosecuted

A common narrative reiterated by Trump supporters and politicians such as Arizona Representative Paul Gosar is that these protesters have become “political prisoners.” However, over 700 individuals were charged on account of the Capitol riot and subsequently released shortly afterward. Only a small minority of those arrested were ordered by a judge to stay in police custody until trial due to the severity of their charges, such as attacking a police officer.

Regardless of political ideology, it is imperative that Americans come to a common understanding that this attack was a serious threat to our country, and work to correct misinformation that has skewed the events that unfolded that day. Judge James Boasburg said it best, “[The rioters] attempted with others to undermine one of our bedrock acts, which is the peaceful transition of power after an election. ,” Judge James Boasburg quoted in the trial of Derek Jancart and Erik Rau, two men who breached the Capital building. “When you try to eliminate that principle, you strike at the heart of our democracy.” January 6th, 2021 is a day in American history that serves as a remembrance of the values upon which our country was built that we must continue to protect, justice and freedom.