Response to U.S. Capitol Terror Attack

Let’s start 2021 honest. Underlying the U.S. Capitol terror attack is racism. Specifically, it’s white backlash, the hostile reaction by white Americans to the “threat” of full racial equality. Social progress makes us white people nervous. Since Reconstruction, we — white people — have argued for incremental advances in civil rights, warning of slippery slopes that will endanger liberty. It’s hard to admit our real fear: equality threatens our unearned power. With this power, we marginalize Black and Brown people while burdening them with our racial education.

Wednesday wasn’t about white privilege but white power, a force in every level of society. The attack was done by private citizens but instigated, condoned, and organized by elected officials. As details surface, the insurrection will prove much worse. Anything less than prosecution of the citizens and officials involved shows our government isn’t serious about our democracy’s survival. Anything less than we — white people — admitting that our fear of racial equality fuels systemic oppression shows we aren’t serious about progress.

Lucas Spielfogel
Executive Director