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White militia groups: a continuing threat to democracy

Melvin B. Miller

Dissidents are at war with America. There was an attack on the nation’s Capitol building on Jan. 6, but the insurrection has been defeated. The relative quiet that followed does not indicate that issues have been resolved. Patriotic citizens still do not clearly understand the cause of the real conflict.

The proffered reason for the riot has been to prevent the certification of results in the 2020 election that are allegedly fraudulent. However, responsible authorities in every state have validated their election returns. That should be enough to end such an assertion. Dissidents should apologize to the citizenry for the discord created by such an outlandish assertion, and the work of government should go forward with efficiency.

However, investigation of the Jan. 6 incident uncovered a plot to attempt another breach of the Capitol by militia groups on March 4. Fortunately, no such incidents occurred, but other information gathered through intelligence indicates the existence of an effort to overthrow the democratic foundation of the republic.

Christopher A. Wray, the FBI director, testified in a senatorial hearing that domestic terrorism was “metastasizing across the country.” Yogananda D. Pittman, acting chief of the Capitol Police, testified that threats against lawmakers had “risen nearly 94%” over the same period last year.

The potential risk to the public should require continued federal investigation of QAnon, the Proud Boys, the Oath Keepers or other organizations that support nondemocratic action against the government.

capitol riot, jan. 6, white militia groups, white supremacy