Prosecute them
President Donald Trump has spent much of his presidency trying to cultivate a relationship with the police and far-right groups. Trump indicated he thought he should “negotiate” a third term as president and said, “Maybe we’ll have to give that (presidency for life) a shot some day.” Contrary to what many of those around him said, what Trump expressed was his true desire not simply a joke.
What occurred at the Capitol on Wednesday was not a spur-of-the moment thing. It was a disjointed campaign based on chaos and carried out over time by Trump, specific members of his cabinet and his staff, certain Republican members of Congress, certain Republican state legislators, and many members of propagandist media organizations such as Fox News and Newsmax.
Once President-elect Joe Biden takes office, the investigation into what occurred should be swift, consequences meted out, and legislation proposed and passed that prevents what took place from happening again. The fact that the Democrats won the runoff elections in Georgia will make that possible.
The terrorists who made it into the Capitol, and whose images have been visible for all to see, should be quickly located, arrested and prosecuted to the fullest degree. Had it been Black Lives Matter protesters breaking into the Capitol, arrests and prosecution would likely be unnecessary. Over and over again we have seen that the use of deadly force is not equally applied.
Elizabeth Westbrook Lett, Norfolk
Remove him
After Wednesday’s events at the U.S. Capitol it appears more urgent than ever to remove President Donald Trump from office immediately. A rational leader does not seek to discredit the electoral process before the election has even taken place. A competent leader would not have 10 former secretaries of defense warn the country of the possible dangers of his actions. A leader concerned with the best interests of the country would not urge the Congress and vice president to ignore the Constitution and overturn the votes of U.S. citizens. And a sane president would not urge his followers to attack the U.S. Capitol to keep him in power. It is time to remove Trump from office to protect this country from further harm and allow him to dwell in his own alternate reality.
George Herning, Virginia Beach
Enforce the law
For a year we have watched the rioting, burning, shooting, property destruction and attacks on our police.
Despite all this, the politicians have ignored this unlawful abuse. Instead some even encouraged it, saying it was their right to demonstrate and went so far as to reduce police presence. Law-abiding citizens we assaulted, their property destroyed, their rights violated.
Many have lost faith in the electoral system as seen in Washington on Wednesday.
The entry into Congress by a few of these demonstrators was not the intention of the majority. The action of a few has masked the intention of the majority.
No one has the right to intimidate others on the left or the right.
It is time that all politicians stop the division in this country by bring people together, not dividing them by race, education, party or intimidation. We the American people should not be described as racist or despicable as some politicians have described us.
Let’s as Americans inform our leaders: Enough is enough. Enforce the law, respect the people’s rights, and bring us together. I for one am ashamed of the leaders of this country. We need leadership and action. God bless America.
Robert L. Studebaker, Norfolk
Voices, not fists
Consider this: In January 2017, I joined nearly half a million people, mostly women and people of color, in Washington, D.C., to let the new president know that we would protect and defend our rights while an estimated 4.5 million people around the world supported us with companion marches. We did not dispute the outcome of the election, despite some evidence of foreign interference.
This January, that same president’s supporters, a comparatively much smaller number of mostly white men, gathered in Washington, D.C., and in state capitols around the country to claim their rights had been violated after losing numerous court battles (60-plus and counting) trying to prove it.
In 2017, despite being packed together in our nation’s capital and despondent after a devastating election, no one was killed and no damage was done to our national treasures. In 2021, four lives were lost while a mob desecrated a symbol of freedom around the world that millions of Americans have given their lives to protect.
While President Donald Trump incited violence and disrespect throughout his term, many of us fought back with our voices and votes, instead of our fists and weapons, like we saw yesterday among his supporters. We persisted and prevailed. Because our votes and democratic process have not stopped him, Trump should be removed via the 25th Amendment or impeached.
Denise M. Murden, Suffolk
How cowardly
I’m surprised and delighted the U.S. Capitol has been secured so quickly after the mob onslaught Wednesday. I couldn’t help but think about the parents and loved ones of 9/11 Flight 93 heroes. They gave everything to protect America (possibly the Capitol) from enemies — foreign. Coward President Donald Trump did everything Wednesday to incite enemies — domestic — to destroy it.
Nicholas Sullivan, Virginia Beach
Stop following Trump
Once again Virginia 1st Congressional District Rep. Rob Wittman has brought shame to our district. His joining with other misguided members of Congress to reject the 2020 results of the Electoral College in which President-elect Joe Biden clearly won, shows a complete lack of support of democracy and the Constitution.
Throughout the administration of President Donald Trump, Wittman has followed blindly the whims and misguided leadership of the most irresponsible and un-American president in at least the past 100 years. Trump is neither a true Republican nor a patriot and has only one tenet, elevation of The Donald. As I write, protesters are storming the Capitol building after being egged on by Trump.
How can Wittman continue to support such a want-to-be dictator. Shame on Wittman, shame on Trump, and shame on all who support flagrant disorder. I sincerely hope in the upcoming redistricting of Virginia that my area of Gloucester County will be in a district that is represented by someone who will remain true to the Constitution, democracy and American honor.
Clemans A. “Andy” Powell, Hayes
‘Wall of shame’
In the wake of President Donald Trump’s seditious encouragement of Wednesday’s mob attack on the U.S. Capitol, let us consider the events of 2016. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton won the popular vote but not the Electoral College. Trump had openly encouraged Russian interference during his campaign; subsequent as well as contemporaneous investigations revealed mountains of evidence that Russia in fact tainted the election. Yet, despite this and policy disagreements, there was no challenge to the peaceful transfer of power. Clinton made a graceful concession speech, President Barack Obama left the White House, and the country moved on.
There is no question that President-elect Joe Biden won the 2020 election. Trump’s claims otherwise are baseless, incitements to the most rabid of his gullible followers. And yet we have also witnessed elected officials playing into the useless charade of challenging the election in order to mollify an irrational president. They were part of and party to the horrific scene in Washington on Wednesday and the attempted denigration of all our ballots. Let their names be inscribed on a wall of shame as a reminder of the dangers of serving false gods.
Virginia S. Dopp, James City County
