In an already historic week, with the election of Rev. Raphael Warnock as Georgia’s first Black senator and the flipping of the Senate, the news turned horrifying as we watched violent rioters storm the halls of Congress to block the electoral count for president of the United States.
These events did not happen spontaneously. The insurrectionists were fueled by violent rhetoric on social media, based on false claims of voter fraud promoted by the current president.
“Today’s tragic attack on the U.S. Capitol is the result of a years-long process of online radicalization,” said Emerson Brooking, resident fellow at the Atlantic Council. “Millions of Americans have been the target of disinformation and conspiracy theories until they can no longer tell the difference between reality and fiction.”
Adding to the pain of this day was the stark contrast between the law enforcement response to this insurrection compared to that of last year’s Black Lives Matter protests on the Capitol steps, which were met by tear gas, rubber bullets, and the National Guard.
After the shock and horror of this day turn to reflection and healing, how can we make sense of this event, and what lessons can we learn that will keep us connected to our values?
After the Congress returned to session and completed the electoral count, Senate Chaplain Barry Black spoke these words in his prayer: “These tragedies have reminded us that words matter and that the power of life and death is in the tongue.”
As we reflect on this day, as restorative practitioners we may ask ourselves how we will take Chaplain Black’s words to heart in our own lives.
How will we use our words to communicate our values of truth, justice, respect, and compassion with everyone in our sphere of influence?
How will we use our words to speak out against injustice, oppression, and violence, even and especially when we are not directly impacted?
How will we use our words to advance a culture of collaboration, one in which understanding replaces ignorance, personal responsibility replaces blame, and love replaces hate?