This week, we asked readers for their thoughts on the January 6th riots at the U.S. Capitol.

 

“I’ve been in a daze. I’m very upset. I feel for these people’s lives, and I walk around afraid because you never know; they could shoot and I could get hit, you know? It’s very scary. I hope the transition will be peaceful. So far, it’s nice and quiet. It’s so sad but yes, [President-elect Joe] Biden will bring the country together, yes. You’ve got to have faith.”

Roxanne Home,                                                                                                                                                                                                    Morris Park

 

“I think [President Donald] Trump is definitely to blame. He incited the riot – not just Trump but everybody in Congress backing Trump. Even after the riots, even after they, themselves, were victims of this crime, they still sat up there and said the election was rigged, [that] it was fake, that it needed to be investigated…the election that had been investigated several times.. I also blame Trump and all the white supremacists who went up to Congress. Also, there needs to be an investigation regarding the policing, and the fact that they were able to get into the Capitol building that easily.”

Milagros Quiñones,                                                                                                                                                                                          Norwood

 

“I feel that President (Trump) was guilty, and he should be held accountable. There are words I can use like ‘disgraceful,’ ‘disgusting,’ but the word I’d really use is ‘disturbing,’ – that it’s 2021, and we’re still dealing with the Civil War, it’s just antiquated thinking. There’s alternate universes, there’s cult of personality, man, and it’s counterproductive, and we just have to stand up to the bullies. Donald Trump represents the past. Half of me likes him – I think he’s as unique as steak and eggs. He’s iconic, and the other half of me thinks he’s a threat to national security, I think he, and his administration, have acted like Russian nationals since day one. America is not stupid, and not everyone is drinking the kool-aid Donald Trump is serving.”

Ray Torres,                                                                                                                                                                                                          Bedford Park

 

“I think the people don’t feel okay with the recent elections and they are angry. And for that reason, the riot took place and we’re in danger, but it’s not Trump’s fault. Yes, he won the election, and I think it was stolen, yes. The country is taking the road of socialism, and it has a lot of influence. That’s really all I can say of my opinion. I don’t know what’s going to happen now. Believe me, you saw what happened before, but I don’t know. I would like it if he runs again in 2024, of course.”

 Hector Delgado,                                                                                                                                                                                               Fordham Manor

 

[Editor’s Note: Various courts have found no evidence of the widespread fraud that former President Donald Trump and his allies have claimed.]

“The one concern across the board was security breach – that was the consistent underlying issue. What happened? Was security enough? Seriously though, that’s the one concern, and who is the infiltrator of the security? How many security [members] were in on it? Because I said it early, and Michael Moore said it the other day, is that this was an inside job. The people with Trump – they are a cult. They’re going to do something rash, and now security has upped its arms, Trump’s not showing up… but something’s going to happen because you cut off their social media – you’re really legitimizing their paranoia now that you are targeting this community.”

Dion Sanders,                                                                                                                                                                                                    Crotona