Attack on Capitol Hill is Symbol of Dividing American Society, Expert Says

The Capitol invasion on January 6, 2021 was “virtually unimaginable” to American society, and is the ultimate symbol of the division of the US population, according to ESPM International Relations professor Gunther Rudzit.

In an interview with CNN, the expert stated that the intensification of political discussions on violence in the country has taken place since the beginning of the 2010s, reflecting negatively on the US image.

“For American culture, it was practically unimaginable to happen, for a president not to accept the election results and for the people to march to reverse. The attack has scratched America’s image as the world’s greatest democratic power leader,” he said.

According to Rudzit, this was also reflected in the speech that the current president, Joe Biden, gave during the ceremony that marked the year of the main attack on democracy in the American country.

The professor explains that it is not common for an American president to quote or attack his predecessors, but Biden spoke several times of Donald Trump, even without mentioning his name, whom he blamed for the events of that day.

For Rudzit, the Republican party is still “dominated” by Donald Trump, which could interfere with any accountability of the former president for the January 6 insurrection.

Finally, the professor warned that political tension is not a problem unique to the United States, but that it is present in all Western democracies, according to the expert, which is a reason for warning.

See the full interview in the video above

Invasion completes one year

The invasion of the United States Capitol, the main symbol of political power in the country, in the capital Washington, completes one year this Thursday (6). During the joint session of Congress that would confirm Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 Presidential Election on January 6, 2021, hundreds of supporters of then-President Donald Trump marched into the building after months alleging voting fraud, which never happened. it has been proven and, on the contrary, has been denied by the main US authorities.

In the attack, the attackers managed to momentarily overcome the security of the place, entering the Capitol, destroying several objects – many with historical significance – and threatening the congressmen with death.

The vice president at the time, Mike Pence, who was in charge of the session, members of Congress and journalists had to leave hastily as a mob climbed the building’s steps and invaded the main halls. The hearing resumed only in the early hours of January 7, confirming Biden’s victory.

Security camera videos show intruders armed with iron bars and chemical sprays attacking police officers. Audios also reveal the despair of security agents with the advance of attackers in the building.

Check out the CNN Brasil special report on this link.