January 6 Capitol Riot: Where Do We Go From Here?

I am sure most people remember where they were on January 6, 2021, due to the Capitol riot. Many on the left have described this as “the greatest threat to democracy since the Civil War.” People on the right claim Nancy Pelosi orchestrated a setup to blame Trump and block him from running for office again. One thing is for sure: this is a polarizing subject, even five years later, and it still divides us. Let’s take a look.

The Sequence of Events

The year 2020 saw an unprecedented convergence of crises—an impeachment trial, a global pandemic, economic collapse, nationwide racial‑justice protests, and intense political polarization. These events, occurring before the November election, dramatically heightened national tension and distrust across the U.S. The election results drove that tension and distrust off the charts. This tension boiled over on the Capitol Plaza the afternoon of January 6. Here is the sequence of events on that fateful day:

Morning: Rally and Speeches on the Ellipse

• Supporters of President Donald Trump gathered in Washington, D.C., for the “Save America” rally on the Ellipse near the White House.
• Donald Trump Jr., Rudy Giuliani, and several members of Congress addressed the crowd and repeated claims that fraud affected the 2020 election.
• President Trump delivered an hour‑long speech urging the crowd to “peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard” and also saying “we fight like hell” and encouraging them to go to the Capitol.

Early Afternoon: March to the Capitol

• After the rally, large groups began walking toward the U.S. Capitol, where Congress was meeting to certify the Electoral College results.
• The first crowds reached the outer police barriers shortly after 12:45 PM.

Violence Begins

1:00–2:00 PM: Breach of Police Lines

• Demonstrators breached multiple police perimeters around the Capitol, overwhelming officers.
• Violence escalated as rioters assaulted Capitol Police, broke through barricades, and forced their way up the steps and into entrances.

Shortly after 2:00 PM: Capitol Building Breached

• Rioters entered the Capitol building, breaking windows and forcing doors.
• The joint session of Congress was interrupted, and lawmakers were evacuated from the House and Senate chambers.

2:00–6:00 PM: Occupation, Vandalism, and Confrontations

• Rioters occupied, vandalized, and ransacked parts of the Capitol for several hours.
• Confrontations with police continued inside and outside the building.
• The building went into lockdown; additional law enforcement and National Guard units were mobilized.

Evening: Capitol Secured

• By early evening, law enforcement cleared the building and established a secure perimeter.
• Congress reconvened later that night to complete the certification of the Electoral College vote.

The Fallout From the Riot

The fallout from the riot was severe:

• There was a loss of life. Ashley Babbitt was shot by a Capitol Police officer inside the Capitol and died at the scene. Three medical emergencies resulted in the deaths of protestors at the event. These deaths were not related to the violence. Three suicides of Police Officers (Capitol and Metropolitan) have been attributed to the trauma of the attack.
• President Trump was impeached for a second time based on House charges of “Incitement of an Insurrection.” During the morning rally, Trump encouraged his supporters to “peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.” He also encouraged them to “fight like hell.” Democratic politicians (and some Republicans) used those words as the basis for the impeachment. Given the frequency with which the word “fight” is used in politics, this seemed like a stretch.

Election Results

• The results of the election further divided this country and still do to this day. Recently, the state of Georgia reported that it had erroneously accepted ~315K ballots that should not have been accepted. The difference between Trump and Biden was ~11K votes. There have been similar claims in Arizona, and some serious questions about the security of the Dominion Voting Systems.
• Election laws have been a volatile subject for many years. The distrust that has grown from the 2020 election has put Congress and the Federal Election Commission (FEC) under fire.
• There was a tremendous focus on identifying those involved in the Capitol riot once Biden took office. The right says that the government weaponized the FBI and other federal agencies against those present at the Capitol. The left strongly disagrees and wants the government to go further to stop what they consider extremism. One thing is sure: the handling of many cases was very “heavy-handed,” with some defendants held for extended periods without court appearances or contact with family members. It is important to note that no one was formally charged with “insurrection,” and the only charges of sedition were brought against the leaders of the “Proud Boys” and the “Oathkeepers.” Trump’s pardon of all those in prison for the riot exacerbated the situation further.

So, Where Do We Go From Here?

This is the big question. The election and the riot made our country even more hyper-political. This is not sustainable for the country. The level of venom being spewed by both sides must stop. The discourse in the public square continues to be highly divisive. Our government, especially Congress, is dysfunctional, and that only deepens the divide. Political violence is becoming a growing issue, and that must stop immediately.

Everyone has a responsibility to do their part to reduce the tensions. If social media is an instigator for you, then get off social media. The Mainstream Media (MSM) has become less about news and more about pushing their ideologies. “We the People” have the power of the purse and rarely use it. One cannot underestimate the impact of declining TV ratings and subscription rates on those making decisions about what to report and how. Each person must find what works for them to get the info they need without exacerbating public discourse or destroying their peace.

The Catholic View

There comes a time in every life when the soul grows tired of noise. Not just the noise around us—the headlines, the scrolling, the endless stream of opinions—but the noise within us. The restlessness. The comparison. The quiet ache that comes from being constantly connected yet rarely at peace. Prayer and retreat are the grace of stepping away.

It is the gentle invitation of God saying, “Come with Me to a quiet place and rest for a while.” Not because we have earned rest, and not because the world has become less chaotic, but because the human heart cannot live on noise. It was made for presence.

When we put down the phone, silence the notifications, and step away from the screens, we discover something surprising: the world keeps spinning, but our souls begin to breathe again. The space that doom‑scrolling once filled becomes room for prayer. The hours lost to binge‑watching become moments reclaimed for listening. The energy drained by constant stimulation becomes strength restored by grace.

Prayer is not an escape from reality. It is a return to reality—the deeper truth that God is here, God is working, and God is speaking even when the world feels unsteady. In prayer, we remember who we are. In prayer, we remember whose we are. Most importantly, in prayer, we remember that our worth is not measured by productivity, performance, or public opinion, but by the steady love of the One who calls us by name.

Please share your thoughts about this article in the “Comments” section.

Peace

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