To the editor:

I was watching the national news when a bulletin flashed across the screen reporting a violent riot in Washington, D.C. In horror and disbelief, I watched as a mob of President Trump’s loyalists attacked the U.S. Capitol and Congress. It was reported earlier that day that Trump provoked his followers to “fight like hell” to prevent the electoral college results from being officially counted, confirming Joe Biden’s victory. Trump claimed, without supporting evidence, that the election had been stolen from him. During this attack, the mob of over 2,000 injured 140 police officers and destroyed federal property. The attack on the Capitol lasted four hours, during which time the rioters breached the building and disrupted the certification of electoral votes.

In the aftermath of this horrific attack, Americans and members of both parties of Congress came together to defend democracy and condemn the violence and rhetoric at our US Capitol.– affirming support for democracy, the rule of law and our elections. The message: what occurred on Jan. 6 was treason, and those who participated must be punished accordingly. That was then, and this is now unfortunately.

Over the past five years there have been ongoing attempts by Republicans to re-write this history. On Jan. 20, 2025, when Donald Trump was elected president, his first official act was to issue a sweeping blanket of 1,600 pardons and commutations to the convicted rioters. They are “patriots” he claimed, as did his supporters. Really. Did you see what I and millions of others saw? A plaque to honor law enforcement officers who defended the Capitol during the attack was mandated, but according to the Washington Post, House Republicans continue to hide this plaque. Why?

Our history is our history –the good, the bad and the ugly.We learn from it, we grow as individuals and as a country. As part of this, our president needs to be held accountable by the people and our elected officials. This is a democracy — lets keep it that way. Say something — do something, before its too late.

Pat Booker

New Ulm