As we ring in a new year, a time traditionally associated with fresh beginnings and second chances, there’s an important conversation to be had about newness and what it really means in the context of justice. Well, this is a season for hope and renewal, yes, qualities that are central to the notion of redemption, but redemption, as we know, is not universal. When we look at President Elect Donald Trump’s promise to pardon those involved in the January 6 insurrection, we have to ask ourselves, is this really about giving people a second chance, or is this about something far more dangerous? The fourth anniversary of the January 6 attack on the US Capitol just passed two days ago, over 1500 people were arrested in connection with that day. These are not just numbers. They represent a profound breach of our democracy, from the violent actions of extremist groups like the proud boys and Oath Keepers to everyday citizens swept up in the fervor of the stop the steal rally the insurrectionists were part of a coordinated attempt to undermine a free and fair election. The crimes committed were not simple protests gone wrong. They were violent attempts to overturn the will of the people. Yet Donald Trump, a figure whose political career has been marked by promoting divisiveness, has promised to pardon these individuals in just days when he takes on his second term. This is no small matter. If these pardons go through, they will not just grant freedom to those who broke the law. The pardons are going to send a dangerous message to the nation. It’s going to tell the American people that violence and insurrection are not only tolerable, but forgivable. Worse, it will embolden extremist groups to continue their efforts to destabilize our democracy. While some have framed this as a fight against a so called weaponized justice system, the reality is far more unsettling, Trump’s narrative cast the insurrectionists as political martyrs, not as criminals who sought to dismantle the democratic process. But history tells us that we must not let violence become the foundation for political power. Pardoning these individuals would effectively endorse their actions, allowing them to return to the very groups that radicalize them, reinvigorating a movement grounded in hate and division. In the broader conversation about criminal justice reform, we can’t forget that Justice must be about accountability. Yes, reform is vital, but it must be reformed that ensures our laws equally apply to all people, that punishes violence with the severity it deserves, and that protects our institutions from those who wish to destroy them. A pardon for the j6 insurrectionists would set us back in terms of that important work. We the People deserve a criminal justice system that holds perpetrators accountable, not one that releases them to continue their dangerous work. Pardoning insurrectionists would be a betrayal to the values that bind us together as a society. It would convey a message that some people, because of their political beliefs, are above the law, while others face harsher consequences for lesser offenses. Consider this in the US, over 2.3 million people are currently incarcerated, more than any other country in the world, while this represents a system in desperate need of reform, it’s important to remember that real justice isn’t about sweeping issues under the rug. It’s about ensuring that accountability and fairness guide the process. The insurrectionists, many of whom believed in conspiracy theories and espoused violent rhetoric and have no regrets about what they did that day, should not be let off the hook just because they have political supporters in high places. So as we welcome in a new year, let’s focus not just on redemption, but on ensuring that redemption is earned through reflection, remorse and change. We must hold those who seek to harm our democracy accountable, regardless of their political affiliations or their proximity to power. Let’s work to shape a criminal justice system that values truth, justice and the integrity of our nation. If we’re serious about reform, it starts with ensuring that insurrectionists face the consequences of their actions. The choice is clear. We have to reject this dangerous path and stand for justice. Let’s hold the line for democracy, not for those who seek to tear it down.