The events at the nation’s capital yesterday were a painful reminder that the United States was founded on white supremacy, that our system isn’t broken, it was designed this way. In 2020 peaceful protestors were criminalized by the thousands merely for calling to end generations of police violence. But in the first week of 2021, we watched a violent insurrection breach the halls of Congress with almost no opposition. 

Let us be clear: we must dismantle the police state. But we cannot remain silent when the disparate impact of our criminal punishment machine is laid bare. In Phoenix, local police muster overwhelming numbers to quash Black assembly, censor Black activism, and criminalize Black leaders with mere hours of notice before a peaceful protest. But in DC, with weeks to prepare, local police sat idly by as the violent crowd scaled walls to occupy the Capitol building. Police opened the gates for and took selfies with them. 

Only 26 of these many thousands of violent white supremacists were arrested yesterday. More people were caged for providing relief to unsheltered Americans near the Capitol building last year. And here in Maricopa County, peaceful protesters are being prosecuted as “rioters” operating as a criminal street gang, simply for wearing similar clothing during a peaceful demonstration with fewer than 25 participants. Maricopa County attorney Allister Adel should pay attention. What happened in Washington yesterday was a riot. What happened in Maricopa County over the summer were protests. 

Yesterday the world witnessed a white supremacist rebellion. The police were complicit. And it was fomented not just by Donald Trump, but by Republican agitators like Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), and AZ GOP Chairwoman Kelli Ward, all of whom are, coincidentally, big supporters and fundraisers for local police union apologist, Allister Adel.  

We march to save Black lives. Their coup was a petulant terror tantrum. And there is no better symbol of America’s commitment to white supremacy than the stark difference in how our government, especially police, responds.