Facts about Jan. 6 insurrection tell a different story

Dear editor,
This letter is in response to Marlys Good’s April 18, 2024 piece, “Too Much Gloom and Doom in the News.” To quote Marlys, “For years, I have been under the impression, always believed, that when immigrants came to this country, went through the legal process and became American citizens, they pledged an allegiance to our country and our Constitution. That didn’t mean they couldn’t disagree, but the “Death to America” chants allowed — right in the White House — are chilling, and should be chilling to everyone.”
The insinuation (noun: an indirect or covert suggestion or hint, especially of a derogatory nature) that immigrants were (are) the problem is flabbergasting.
Let’s take just a quick look at the facts in the case of the January 6th insurrectionists on our U.S. Capitol building, a reasonable example of just how wrong this assertion is.
From an online articled entitled, “A Demographic and Legal Profile of January 6 Prosecutions,” from Seton Hall University, dated Wednesday, July 26, 2023: “The Center for Police & Research at Seton Hall University has released a report ‘The January 6 Insurrectionists: Who They Are and What They Did,’ which presents demographic data and provides a detailed examination of the disposition and charges brought against the 716 persons prosecuted in the first year after the storming of the Capitol.”
Included in the subsequent report was data on the racial makeup of the insurrectionists: those charged were overwhelmingly white (659 of 716, or 92%), but also included Hispanics (39, or 5.4%), Blacks (10, or 1.4%), Asians (7, or <1%) and one Native American.
Just for giggles and laughs, I’ll also include the statistical breakdown of gender from that same report: “Men comprised 81.3% (or 625 of 716) of the charged rioters (while) women (accounted for) 12.7% (or 91 of 716) of those charged.” What shall we make of that?
“With the exception of race and gender, in many ways, the 716 charged for their actions on January 6 mirror America,” said Donna Crawley, Professor Emeritus at Ramapo College and consulting statistician to the report.
Marlys, you added, “This can’t be happening in America.” In previous writings, I have been troubled by your implications, my perception being that you walk a very thin line. This time, you crossed from implication to insinuation and I can no longer remain silent.
Respectfully,
Cathy Kunkel

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