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Dr. Rashad Richey

National TV Political Analyst, Talk Radio Host, Univ. Prof.

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Opinion

Narrative of Jan. 6 attack reveals conservative bias, spin

Apr 5

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On Jan. 6, 2021, supporters of then-President Donald Trump overpowered police and federal officers, broke into the U.S. Capitol, and then searched the Capitol and surrounding areas for specific Congress members to kill or take hostage in an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election. While some took to social media and threatened to wage a second civil war, others joined the battle on the front lines, where they injured over 140 D.C. and Capitol Police officers.

Straight Arrow News contributor Dr. Rashad Richey reflects on the mainstream narrative of Jan. 6, which he suggests often downplays the true violence and extremism, and wonders how different that narrative might be had the attackers on that day been Black, Muslim or liberal, instead of conservative white men. Richey reminds us to check our sources for political bias and to be aware of the spin that certain sources might intentionally place on narratives like the one surrounding Jan. 6.

You see what happened on the Capitol grounds during that infamous day where democracy was almost overturned, overthrown, they don’t consider that a crime. You see, that’s not crime to them. That’s, that’s revolution, that’s a movement. Those are frustrated trespassers, right?

But I guarantee you if their last names would have been Mohammed, or if it would have been, well, let’s just say Black Lives Matter who did the exact same thing, under the exact same conditions, and said the exact same terminology, hang Mike Pence, where’s Nancy Pelosi, fighting Capitol Police, if all of that would have happened, but you would have changed the last name or skin color, the narrative would have been completely different. It would have been about violence, it would have been about criminal activity, gangs, it would have been about bringing in more police, law and order.

But because of the complexion of protection, the narrative is completely different. I don’t care what your political ideology may be, you understand what I just said resonates as truth. It resonates as truth because it is true.

Okay, let’s talk about context versus spin. You see, context is authentic, it provides variables you may not have been aware of, it gives you the scenario, the whole thing, provides opportunity for you to have a better understanding. Spin, however, is intentional manipulation of the data, the facts, whatever it may be.

 

For example, if we’re talking about crime, and this conversation gets hyper-polarized between the Left and the Right, but if we’re talking about crime, and we’re looking at statistics of Black crime, white crime, etc. understand that you’re already starting from the premise of what is defined as criminal activity, by way of someone else.

 

You see what happened on the Capitol grounds during that infamous day where democracy was almost overturned, overthrown, they don’t consider that a crime. You see, that’s not crime to them. That’s, that’s revolution, that’s a movement. Those are frustrated trespassers, right?

 

But I guarantee you if their last names would have been Mohammed, or if it would have been, well, let’s just say Black Lives Matter who did the exact same thing, under the exact same conditions, and said the exact same terminology, hang Mike Pence, where’s Nancy Pelosi, fighting Capitol Police, if all of that would have happened, but you would have changed the last name or skin color, the narrative would have been completely different. It would have been about violence, it would have been about criminal activity, gangs, it would have been about bringing in more police, law and order.

 

But because of the complexion of protection, the narrative is completely different. I don’t care what your political ideology may be, you understand what I just said resonates as truth. It resonates as truth because it is true.

 

Look at it this way. We have an opportunity here in America to do something profound, remarkable, to care more about the good things, the loving things, the unity things than what divides us. It doesn’t seem we’re going down that path. But we can course correct. Now remember, there is no victimless racism or bigotry. These narratives have been manipulated for many, many years. Truth has to count.

 

You know, the Boston Tea Party, it wasn’t a damn party. Destruction of property. Wait, planned attack. You can justify the reason if you choose. But once again, the telling of the narrative, hell the title of the narrative, provides a benefit that others never receive. My point is, don’t get caught up in the intentional misrepresentation of the facts. But do your best to check that bias that may be affixed to the words you hear.

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