There is very little that we can say about the events that transpired yesterday that we haven’t already said before. What we witnessed in Washington should come as no surprise to anyone who has been paying attention. White supremacists were incited by Republican lawmakers and the sitting President to riot because they lost an election. Domestic terrorists attempted a coup on American soil and law enforcement posed for selfies with them. Capitol Police practically welcomed an armed mob into a government building they intended to destroy as if they were schoolchildren on a field trip.

When Black Lives Matter protested in Washington this past summer, we marched, we chanted, we danced, we sang. We played jump rope with young children in front of the White House. We made no attempt to storm the Capitol Building or surrounding offices on the Hill. We did not break windows, we did not fire shots into the House or Senate chambers. We did not ransack Nancy Pelosi’s office or steal podiums. We did not force democratically elected representatives to evacuate and delay important votes on the electoral college certification.

And still, Black Lives Matter demonstrators in DC were met with tear gas, rubber bullets and military grade vehicles as we peacefully protested for our lives.

This is the ultimate American double standard at play. We are called terrorists while the ones who actually seek violence are praised as patriots. We are expected to reach across the aisle and make nice with those who wish to eradicate us. We are implored to fight for a nation that refuses to fight for us.

The great Maya Angelou once said, “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” America has shown us what it is capable of for centuries now. If you had any doubts before, it’s time to start believing now.

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