January 13, 2021
Authorities identify woman killed by police in U.S. Capitol rioting
Ashli Babbit, a war veteran and supporter of QAnon, was shot and killed at the capitol last Wednesday.
Why was she killed?
Babbit illegally attempted to enter the Capitol building through a window after being repeatedly told not to.
Background on Babbitt:
Babbitt was an air force veteran, libertarian, and follower of QAnon, a far-right conspiracy theory. According to her ex-husband, she was known for her strong political views.
What happens now?
Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department are investigating her death as of the time of writing. The officer who shot Babbitt is on administrative leave.
QAnon is a pro-Trump conspiracy theory. Believers think that Donald Trump is fighting against Satan worshipping pedophiles who control all aspects of life, such as the media. Many of those who invaded the U.S. Capitol were believers in QAnon, such as Ashley Babbitt.
How did it start?
An anonymous user by the name of “Q” posted messages on a 4chan message board. The user claimed to have “Q level security clearance” at the U.S. government. The user would continue posting and gained a following of thousands.
Followers believe that “Q” intentionally posts some false information, which makes it harder to disprove QAnon’s ideologies to its supporters.
Impacts of QAnon:
Ashli Babbitt, a supposed follower of QAnon, attempted to break into the Capitol building and was shot and killed.
QAnon believers have made threats, attacked public figures, and obstructed public areas while heavily armed. Eric Trump, Donald Trump’s son, reposted a QAnon meme, and Donald Trump retweeted supporters of QAnon. Donald Trump seemingly endorsing QAnon affects peoples support of the theory.
Antifa is short for anti-fascist. Chris Wray, the director of the FBI, refers to Antifa as an ideology rather than an organization. However, Donald Trump believes that Antifa is an anarchist, extremist group that only incites violence. Trump also used ‘Antifa’ as an umbrella term for protestors of George Floyd’s death in June. Donald Trump also claims he will designate Antifa as a terrorist group. However, Antifa does not have a hierarchy or formal organization.
So… should we be concerned?
Wray believes that Antifa is an idealogy, not a terror group. After the Sept. 11 attacks, domestic terrorism was a large focus in a hearing held before the House Homeland Security Committee, mainly in the form of white supremacists and anti-government anarchists. Although some anarchists may believe in anti-fascism, it doesn’t mean that they are the “Group” of Antifa.
Franklin williams • Jan 23, 2021 at 12:21 pm
I agree with K. Smith…Some People in th his country always need a scapegoat and are prone to hyperbole when it comes to their judgement and opinions. Waters and Pelosi never cheered on looters and George Floyd was not the Joker or the Riddler. False equalivencies will never justify the treasonous actions of January 6th. Also in America why do priveledged people always feel that Equality is oppression?
KSmith • Jan 22, 2021 at 12:34 pm
QAnon and trump needed a scapegoat so they fabricated antifa. I’m still amazed these people all made it so far into the capitol before being shot at by police. The other comment on here the guy talks about “two different America’s” – yeah, one where half the people have to beg and plead for basic human rights and the other half of the them believe they’re entitled to say/behave in any way they wish without consequence. Everyone keeps saying she’s “unarmed” how can we be so sure? The contents of her backpack have never been disclosed, she wasn’t behaving in a calm or rational way whatsoever, the officer had every logical reason to believe that his and the lives of the people he was protecting were in immediate danger.
Rick Jack Holt • Jan 16, 2021 at 5:40 am
There are clearly two sets of rules and two separate standards in this country. I was appalled by the the group that converged on the capital building but more so by the senseless murder of an unarmed woman by capital police. The officer that took her life is clearly a coward of the worst kind and unlike the officers involved in the accidental death of career criminal George Floyd is being protected. So quick were the identities of the officers involved in the death of George Floyd disclosed and thrown under the bus.
We watched our cities occupied by left wing extremist, businesses looted and burned while people like Maxine Waters and Nancy Pelosi cheered them on. Our media has become little more than a propaganda machine for the left and the majority of our politicians are self serving opportunists who care little for the American citizens.
Maya Campbell • Feb 26, 2021 at 9:10 am
Hello, thanks for reading my story. However, I would like to know about these “Left-wing extremists.” Are you referring to Black Lives Matter protestors?