It’s been four years since the January 6 riots of 2021, and it has become clear that the event was neither an insurrection nor a coup. The media and Washington elites cling to the “insurrection” label to cast themselves as victims and to portray ordinary Americans as a dangerous threat. They argue that an unorganized group of working-class activists posed a risk to the powerful federal government. Over these four years, the FBI has pursued these so-called “insurrectionists,” who have mostly faced charges for minor offenses like trespassing. A few have been convicted for actions that were legal for most of American history but have become offenses as the government has expanded its powers.
Many of those involved in actual violence were convicted for using items like crutches or bear spray against police, with only a handful charged for possessing firearms at the Capitol. The response to the January 6 event has allowed the Capitol Police to increase their power and morph into something resembling a national spy agency under Chief Tom Manger. The agency has created an intelligence bureau and established field offices across the country, showcasing a significant expansion of authority.
The claim that January 6 constituted a coup attempt fails because the rioters did not aim to replace the government with a new regime. Coups involve organized groups of elites seeking to unseat current leaders, which did not occur on January 6. The Capitol riot was chaotic and lacked support from any elites; it was merely a disorganized protest.
Real coups typically have military or elite involvement to overthrow an executive ruler. Scholars Jonathan M. Powell and Clayton L. Thyne define a coup attempt as an illegal effort by elites or military forces to oust the existing leadership. Their definition emphasizes that unlawful acts are a hallmark of coups, distinguishing them from protests or legal actions like votes of no confidence.
Moreover, the involvement of elite groups is crucial for an event to be classified as a coup. Historical examples show that successful coups have involved military leaders or portions of the state infrastructure wielding the means and organization to seize control. In contrast, the January 6 event involved no such organization, planning, or support from military or governing elites.
While the definition of a coup can include civilian groups, it is evident that the rioters on January 6 had no backing from state elites. There was no coordination with law enforcement or military factions. In fact, it was Vice President Mike Pence, not President Trump, who communicated with the military and police during the event, indicating that there was no support for any attempt to maintain power.
The term “coup” has become politically charged since 2021, often used selectively by the media for political effect. The media’s usage implies that it denotes any action that is disfavored rather than a specific legal or political incident. This shift in definition has serious implications for public discourse, as labeling the January 6 events as a coup justifies severe penalties for those involved and serves as a pretext for measures against political adversaries.
If the roles were reversed, and the events supported a leftist cause, the media coverage would likely differ significantly. The narrative surrounding January 6 reflects broader societal divisions and demonstrates how language is employed to frame events according to political preferences, rather than objective assessments of events as they relate to historical definitions of a coup.
https://mises.org/mises-wire/why-washington-still-pretends-january-6-was-attempted-coup
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