President Biden claimed the US Capitol demonstrators and rioters of January 6th were worse than Confederates.
In a speech opposing election legislation in Pennsylvania, the President said, “We’re facing the most significant test of our democracy since the Civil War. It’s not hyperbole — since the Civil War. Confederates, back then, never breached the Capitol as insurrectionists did on January 6.” Biden’s comments follow the organization of a special committee to investigate the events of January 6th.
The Civil War resulted in an estimated 750,000 American deaths, while at the US Capitol, one protestor died: Ashli Babbitt, a United States Air Force veteran. Babbitt was shot by an unnamed Capitol Police officer as she entered the building. Three others died following the demonstrations due to medical complications and natural causes – including Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick who suffered two strokes.
While many politicians are focused on the January 6 riot, a poll earlier this year suggested Americans are more concerned about the violent riots in the summer of 2020. FBA reported, “When asked ‘Which do you find more concerning – the violence in American cities during the summer or the riots at the Capitol on January 6th?’ 55% of respondents said they were more worried about the BLM riots as only 45% said that the Capitol riots were of more concern to them. The poll also found that people were more confident that the Capitol rioters would be punished compared to the summer rioters.”