One of the most unsettling aspects of the last four years is the intentional effort to rewrite history in the media to fit a narrative either by denying facts or echoing clearly false statements. The recent stories on the riot in Congress is a good example. Most of us denounced Trump’s speech (as it was being given) and, of course, the rioting itself. Some, however, have noted that there have been violent protests for years, including the protest in Lafayette Square. The fact that there have been violent protests by the left does not take away from the disgraceful attack on Congress. Yet, there seems a controlling narrative that must be maintained at all costs — portraying past protests by groups on the left as peaceful to magnify the criticism of the recent violence in Congress. Even a site ironically called Media Matters published a piece not only calling the Lafayette protest peaceful but repeating a long discredited claim about the controversial Trump photo op. I testified in Congress on the Lafayette Park operation and the revisionism surrounding the controversy is alarming.
The Lafayette Park protests occurred over multiple days and the clearing operation was ordered as a result of a decision made before the final day to establish a greater perimeter to protect the White House complex and immediate surrounding area — much as the same fence perimeter was used last week on Capitol Hill. The operation was carried out, in my view, in an abusive way due to the level of force deployed and, as discussed below, the charging of the police line. They could have cleared the area without that level of force in my judgment, as I discussed in my testimony.
The Media Matters article by Bobby Lewis is illustrative an array of such media pieces. It was sent to my attention by a reader due to a reference to an interview that I did this week:
“Fox contributor Jonathan Turley compared the Capitol attack to “the Lafayette Park incident,” a June 2020 Black Lives Matter protest he falsely described as “an attack on the White House.” What actually happened was federal security forces tear-gassed protesters and media, without warning or serious provocation, in order to violently clear a path for a Trump photo-op in front of a church whose leaders did not want him there.”
Other sites have described the Lafayette Park protests as “peaceful.” One site called Quartz said the protests were “entirely peaceful” and objected that there was no “attack on the White House.”
That is simply not true. Quartz was open in how it construed the protest as peaceful by referring to only the final day. While that claim is contested by law enforcement which showed objects being thrown at police, it simply ignores that the order to clear the area was due to the preceding violence of the prior two days.
As discussed in my testimony, there was an exceptionally high number of officers injured during the protests around the White House complex. Some 150 officers were injured during the protests and half of those were injured around the White House. The Justice Department claimed 750 injured officers during the various protests. What is clear that is dozens of officers were injured and there are videotapes of officers hit by frozen bottles, bricks and other missiles. For two days, the violence continued with the burning of a historic structure, extensive property damage and the attempted burning down of the historic St. John’s Church. The attacks around the complex were so great that the President was moved into the bunker and officers said that they were concerned that the complex might be breached.
It is also untrue that the area was cleared “in order to violently clear a path for a Trump photo-op.” A wide array of witnesses and documents detailed how the plan to clear the area was put into motion over 24 hours before the actual operation — and long before any discussion of a photo op. The Park Police wanted to expand the perimeter to protect the White House and the plan was approved by then Attorney General Bill Barr. It was delayed because the officers were waiting for both fencing material and back-up personnel. When the personnel and fencing arrived, they proceeded with the operation. Barr repeatedly denied having knowledge of Trump’s desire for a photo op which arose long after the plan was approved.
At the hearing, I testified that I believed that there were unlawful actions taken in the operation. The final police charge appeared unjustified as was an attack on a media crew. I also criticized with the level of force used and suggested an array of inquiries for Congress to pursue in these areas of possible illegality.
However, the record and videotapes demonstrate that there was a high level of violence and destruction in Lafayette Park. Indeed, there are analogies to the situation at the Capitol. As with the Capitol, National Guard personnel were brought in after the violence had occurred. Indeed, in Lafayette Park, there was violence for two days before the deployment and the clearing of the area. In both situations, fencing was added to protect an expanded perimeter.
The point is not to defend either law enforcement operation. Indeed, I was highly critical of the clearing of Lafayette Park due to the excessive force used by the Park Police. However, it is simply not true that the Lafayette Park protests were peaceful as demonstrated by the high number of law enforcement injuries and extensive property damage. Even on the day of the clearing of the area, there was some violence. However, when the park was cleared, there was not the violence of the preceding days. That is why the level of force was excessive. The reports of a “peaceful” protest intentionally omits the violence leading up to the plan to expand the perimeter. The clearing of the park was not to address the immediate violence in the park. It was approved earlier to clear the park to protect the complex. Thus, there had been considerable violence and destruction but there was not such violence at the time of the clearing of the park. That is what happened in Lafayette Square.
I fail to see why such facts cannot be recognized and still criticize actions in both operations. Indeed, you can make the valid point that the effort to stop a constitutional act in Congress is a far greater threat to our system. Yet, there is no need to revise the facts to make those points. Indeed, they are more compelling when presented in a frank and honest way. We cannot reach a consensus as a nation if we are demanding answers based on diametrically opposed facts. There is clarity — and a truth — to be found in these incidents but it will take people of good faith to reach achieve that vital goal.
Thank you Professor, for recording the facts about the Lafayette Park Protest. But those who need the reminder are not listening. All we are left with is the sick reality that the more they repeated any one of the media’s false narratives, the more it became an artificial “truth”. As disturbing as the actions in DC on January 7th were, they were stopped, they are going to be brought to justice or at least the ones that we know about will be. But those who have been changing the facts to fit their own needs in the media, they have prevailed. It’s more disturbing because we see no end in sight to it. Those who rioted in the Rotunda failed, those anti-journalism people who use the media to force their ugly creations down America’s throat, prevailed and hold absolute power to do so, or so it seems. Anyone who was watching on November 3, saw them pretend to stop counting and then wake up with numbers switched to fit what they wanted. The general public saw it with their own eyes, and are now threatened with all sorts of criminal acts and acts of expulsion from society if they demand a credible explanation, because so far, we haven’t got one.
Brandenburg v. Ohio, 1969. Incitement for future acts is protected. Incitement for imminent acts, is not. Trump calls an angry mob to the White House, charges them up with a speech filled with lies about the election being stolen and democracy needs to be “defended” and “fought for”. He then instructs them to march to the US Capitol to disrupt the proceedings and fight to overturn the election in his favor. He even assures them he will go with them. They immediately act on his instructions attacking the capitol, sending the Congress into hiding and murdering a US Police Officer. Within an hour of his telling them to go start trouble and stop the vote. You really aren’t even a good attorney any more, much less a reasonable balanced scholar. You and Rudy Guliani should put out a shingle together. He can be Do-we and you can be “Cheat-um”. Now you just need an “and-how” and you’re all set.
Fortunately we have the President’s transcript from January 6, 2021. We do not need to imagine what the POTUS said, nor speculate what he meant, nor creatively (mis)quote him.
“We have come to demand that Congress do the right thing and only count the electors who have been lawfully slated, lawfully slated. I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.”
IOWs…”CHARGE!”
Fortunately we have the President’s transcript from January 6, 2021. We do not need to imagine what the POTUS said, nor speculate what he meant, nor creatively (mis)quote him…IOWs…”CHARGE!”
Babylon Bee would like your comment. 🤣
They won they can name the new country anything they want. That’s the price we pay for letting socialists vote in defiance of their anti Constitutional drive for a new USSR no sweat change the R to an A… Jack up the taxes and start another war. Whoops is the military going to go fight the next one? After all war is an extension of politics by other means. Nope. Time to hire the mercs our military can’t even uphold the first sentence of their Oath of Office. Yellow Berets but at what level?
‘ Revisionist History ‘. . . being written in real time . . . Is George Orwell’s ” 1984 ” required reading for all those on the Left whether in DC or in the Media? Or maybe ” Fahrenheit 451 ” ? These are extraordinary times when ‘ reports ‘ on events are carefully and deliberately skewed toward a prescribed narrative instead of the actual truth . . . or NOT reported at
all ! One wonders when the day will come that I go to log on to my internet service only to be greeted by a brilliant blue screen that says ‘ SERVICE DENIED ! ‘
I’ve never before been sickened to wake up in America, because I was in America and that comes 100% from knowing what the corrupt MSM just pulled off. There will be repercussions for those who participated in the incursion into the Rotunda. But those who would stop at nothing until they again had power, they have it now.
Revisionist historians seek to reexamine ‘settled’ questions, correct mistakes, expose inaccuracies, and dispel legend and myth.
They do not fabricate or falsify the past; like a good scientist, they seek to ‘correct’ the historical paradigm.
What BLM, the Democrats, CNN, and others are doing is not revision, is is falsification, fabrication, and misrepresentation.
So, not the “revision” of history, but the “falsification” of history.
Mr. Turkey, will you please comment on Google and Amazon attempted efforts to stop the use of Parler. Is this not restraint of interstate trade? Is this not a violation of 1st Amendment rights?
Turley has made it clear he wants his blog to be a right-wing bubble and that is his choice. Others and myself have tried to point out facts and the truth to readers on this blog only to be personal insulted and attacked. So his “base” will have to excuse me and others for fighting back when they act outside of facts and the truth. I am sure that like myself we all know and have close personal friends with republicans, but the ones I know are real republicans and not Trumpers. A republicans I know can sit in a room with me and talk shop for hours and not get into name calling and insults. The republicans I know are patriots first to our country and even though we can have different policy choices we want the best for our country, and our country comes first. History has shown us that loyalty to one man has not worked out so well.
That’s because those “facts” are always lies.
“No amount of evidence will ever persuade an idiot”……Mark Twain
For you fishdiks ….. “it is better to remain silent and thought the fool , than to open your mouth and remove all doubt”…Mark Twain.
How long did it take you to find that quote, but you can’t find informational facts?
Your “facts” are alternate reality. I have read a lot of Mark Twain…he was spot on about the type of goobermint we have had foisted upon us of late. A politics of hate and deceit & corruption ( china joe the grifter king -say no more ) , of definite anti American bent , god hating at it’s core.
Fish wings, you’re arguing with one of Estovir’s puppets.
Funny. Most dems I know devolve into absolute fascism.name calling if their view is challenged , let alone debated. If you open your eye a wee bit you should notice the brazen krystallnacht mentality arising from the dem left. In the media , pundits & politicos alike are all wanting blood…real good model citizens there huh. They support a criminal groping grifter with onset dementia to demand censorship and re-education camps etc etc. Loyalty to big brother mentality in history has shown us loyalty to that has not worked out so well.
They will have the whole place looking like San Francisco in no time, and tell you it’s just your “privilege” that you ever knew a world where you didn’t need a poop map to take your kids to school.
FishWings — chip in to help get the movie made!
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Not a Trump fan, but Democrats should consider what will happen when the Republicans control all branches of government. The tables will turn and Democrats, progressives, African-Americans, LGBT-Americans and immigrants will be targeted with those same “unconstitutional” authorities. It could easily censor music, movies and video games. In American history, minority groups are the disproportionate losers from unconstitutional authorities.
Even though these guys this week are dangerous, all searches should require “judicial warrants” closely supervised by judges. Maybe Congress needs to legislate a heavily supervised short-term judicial warrant for narrow cases of incitement to violence. Again Democrats will regret creating unconstitutional practices when the other party is in charge.
As far as censorship, wouldn’t it be better for national security to know who the dangerous individuals are instead of them going underground? In some European nations it’s illegal to even offend someone. Facebook and social media is infamous for not being accurate in censorship, censoring fine art and statues (ex: Facebook suspended the ACLU page for displaying a fine art statue in a public park). When Republicans run things, Democrats will be on the receiving end if we overreact the wrong way in 2021.
I’m not partisan. I hope I have a balanced, unbiased view of things generally.
But, please could you explain, what’s this repetitive ‘criticism’, about ‘The LEFT’? Is there not ‘The RIGHT’ that is equally condemnable?
No.
If one has been paying attention, and is of a truly non-partisan mind, then, no there isn’t an equal measure that is even close. The DNC and their associations have become something very openly ugly in the 21st century. Understand too that ‘left’ is not directly equivalent to ‘liberal’ in this country.
James , I concur. As well to note The modern dems have indulged in corrupting our elections/voting to the point of making it a surreal attempt at honest open elections when in fact it is spurebly rigged in their political bents favor. The math doesn’t, did not lie. The hokus pokus that Dominion and certain cities in certain states of a certain party stripe all indulged in vote count manipulation with glee.
Mr. Jefferson again.
“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is it’s natural manure.”
When will will our Orwellian govt. treat this as hate speech?
How many times has this Jefferson quote been cited?
“When government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.”
I think congress got a taste of the first sentence.
I’m not sure where all of this is headed but I do find it interesting that people for decades or more love spitting out words but when actions appear, they withdraw. Makes you wonder what it was truly like to live in 1776.
JT. As far as the mob is concerned, you have a “Woke” problem:
“The Coming “Woke” American Theocracy”
https://theduran.com/the-coming-woke-american-theocracy/
“It’s important to point out that this new woke fanaticism is a polytheistic religion with many gods to exalt.
There are the cultural gods whose followers wage jihad peacefully protest against everything in their path– monuments, buildings, and businesses run by infidel non-believers.”
Ha. I actually read this garbage fire of a blog post and am now fully convinced of your diesel powered idiocy, Rhodesy.
Elvis Bug
I always read the posts you dump on, Bug. I gave old Rhodes a like. Thank you for the heads up.
Rhodes is right. Post-modernism is a leftist cult that willfully denies any countervailing fact. The faculty clowns who invented this stuff openly dispute even basic logic as a “social construct.” The left hasn’t had a workable idea in 50 years, and yet, this post-modernist BS spreads. That’s a cult, just as Rhodes described.
Jon, you’re coming across as being in fear of losing your relevance. But fear not, i think your work with Trump is only just beginning. As long as he’s alive he’ll be tied up in court from here on out. Here’s my wager that you’re involved with that unless he’s bankrupted (which is a strong possibility and, actually, the most likely trump business scenario as per usual).
In some ways, the most apt metaphorical comparison for the close of the trump political experiment may be SINGLE WHITE FEMALE. Maybe best to review that flick in order to gauge your most appropriate jumping off point, Professor?.
As far as your posted content in this article? Well I guess it deserves this much: No…, Lafeyette Square was not at all like what happened on Wednesday. I went to high school in the 70’s in an urban school during forced bussing. Maybe the best lesson from it was getting schooled in the differences between the energy of a crowd that is whipped up with a few isolated actors getting too excited versus the energy of a crowd that’s ready to blow…
Lafeyette Square, as well as all the summers’ protests, were of the former as sometimes after dark there were those that took advantage of the protest as a whole. What happened wednesday was of the latter as a cop was killed, another nearly crushed and ass clowns waved Confederate flags in the Capitol and people patroled the halls with zip tie handcuffs looking to hang Pence. Probably good their tactical skill wasn’t well developed because Wednesday could’ve turned into one of the biggest massacres in American political history. And no, Lafeyette Square had none of that potential.
Going forward Turley, it’s best you realize these differences. Yes, unfortunately, Cruz and Hawley have probably made the best bet re the future of what the republican party has on tap. But the party itself is splitting apart, making the crew you’re branding yourself for an ever increasing minority. But hey, really sharpening and solidifying your niche status may well just be your future — a staggering race to the bottom for you, someone I once had respect for as a moderate republican lawyer…
Even though I’m descended from old school back room Dem New England politics and would never vote Republican in any kind of sustained way, i was a fan of principled conservatives such as John Chafee at one point. Gauging the regression in where Republicanism is heading now, I guess that shows just how much of an idiot I was in not seeing the logical outcome we’ve arrived at. Not that I don’t feel badly for where the people carrying water for Trump — like you and Mike Pence. But it seems you’ve earned your place on this political Titanic.
Elvis Bug
“I guess that shows just how much of an idiot I was in not seeing the logical outcome we’ve arrived at.”
Don’t sell yourself short, Bug. You’re still an “idiot”, that is still “not seeing the logical outcome we’ve arrived at”.
Oh look, Rhodesy can cut and paste thereby earning his participation trophy for the day.
Elvis Bug
And I suppose, since you’re so short on nuance and understanding Rhodesy, that literal translation is what you require…
I don’t GAF about where you, personally, have arrived. I mean, on a bus, flex cuffed, would probably be a good starter. But you’re a poseur who lives vicariously through your hero…, the Village People guy with the buffalo horns.
Elvis Bug
Interesting that there’s so much concern about the one cop killed when Democrat supporters (disguised in BLM and Antifa outfits) have killed cops all last year during their “peaceful” protests.
Insert obligatory Orwell quote from 1984. If people haven’t read that book, they need to get a copy now
Thanks JT for being the voice of truth and reason for either sides of the divide. Most people who fueled, supported and encouraged the seemingly unending protests in 2020 would claim that it was mostly peaceful, even when it was as clear as daylight that there was so much destruction and carnage resulting from the protests.
CNN and the likes repeatedly called them peaceful protests anyways, even when live feeds from their reporters from the field were showing so much carnage in the background. Amidst the destruction, arson and looting, Kamala Haris, now VP elect told the protesters not to ever Let Up. That is the level of bias you get from the MSM and the politicians who politicised everything.
One common thing though with the recent Capitol incident is that president Trump and his associates in the Republican party came out to give a strong condemnation of what happened, unlike what the Democrats and their media darlings did last year.
Thanks JT for being the voice of truth and reason for either sides of the divide. Most people who fueled, supported and encouraged the seemingly unending protests in 2020 would claim that it was mostly peaceful, even when it was as clear as daylight that there was so much destruction and carnage resulting from the protests.
CNN and the likes repeatedly called them peaceful protests anyways, even when live feeds from their reporters from the field were showing so much carnage in the background. Amidst the destruction, arson and looting, Kamala Haris, now VP elect told the protesters not to ever Let Up. That is the level of bias you get from the MSM and the politicians who politicised everything.
One common thing though with the recent Capitol incident is that president Trump and his associates in the Republican party came out to give a strong condemnation of what happened, unlike what the Democrats and their media darlings did last year.
Buckle up Professor. We are in for a wild ride. There are discussions of “cleansing” and “purging “ those of us on the right. Those are terms Hitler used to exterminate the Jewish people. It seems that would be perfectly alright with leftist extremists.
Is there any question that it’s the Democrat Party that are Nazis?
Absolutely zero.
JT isn’t trying to incite a coup.
This was posted as a reply to the question “How long until JT is de-platformed?” from puzzling.
There does seem to be a major distinction from a protest that had violence and an effort to invade the Congress for a coup to halt a final counting of electors. Also chants to hang the VP and take legislators hostage. Basically fomented by the Commander in Chief
+100
The zip ties and molotovs were a special touch on Wednesday as well.
Elvis Bug
“The zip ties and molotovs were a special touch”
Antifa objects to that statement. They’ve been using both since day one along with other incendiary devices.
Likewise with the pipe bombs that were found where they were conveniently placed.
Your gig is about to be up, Bug. This sh*t’s not going to wash.
Oh look…, Rhodesy can use cliches, thereby earning his participation trophy for the day.
Elvis Bug
Invade the Congress for a coup? Do you ever think about what you write? Invading Congress CAN’T be a coup, even if it works. The stupidity that comes with insulation from reality is staggering.
What a stupid comment, “William.” You know the purpose of that joint session of Congress.
The goal of the insurrectionists was to intimidate the VP and “weak” Republicans into overturning the election so Trump could remain in power.
How long until JT is de-platformed?
Well, lessee.
1. Reddit is shutting down discussion groups.
2. Facebook has deplatformed Walkaway
3. Google and Apple are trying to throttle Parler.
4. WordPress shut down The Conservative Treehouse arbitrarily earlier this year. Note, the alternative Blogger is owned by Google.
NB about Google and Apple. I suspect there’s an antique term in anti-trust law which describes that. The AEI types have been telling us we had no right to use social media platforms, their functional monopolies and protection from defamation suits notwithstanding. So we move to a new social media platform and a different set of tech companies attempts to prevent anyone from joining it or using it.
Note, Trump has never advocated anything out of the ordinary. All of his signature initiatives are mainstream positions. Dennis Prager is another mainstream figure. So is Brandon Straka, of Walkaway. Are any liberals who post here the least bit perturbed by this?