This movement, united by Trump, brings together conservatives, Christian nationalists, Nazi sympathizers, white supremacists, and ultranationalist groups such as the Proud Boys. law defines insurrection as “a violent uprising by a group or movement acting for the specific purpose of overthrowing the constituted government and seizing its powers.” Those who stormed the Capitol clearly intended to overthrow the democratically elected incoming government, and there are even early reports that some of the offenders were seeking to capture, and even possibly execute, Vice President Mike Pence, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and other lawmakers in Congress.Īlthough the attack failed to prevent Congress from certifying the election results, there are troubling indicators, such as a shared grievance, a strong group identity, and recruitment and training, that America could be in the early days of a violent political movement that will endure after President Donald Trump leaves office. This was violence with a political goal in mind: Preventing the lawful certification of presidential election results to disrupt the peaceful transition of power. Instead, it was a deliberately planned attack.

The assault, which took place while Congress was convened to certify the election-and which left at least five people dead-was not a protest gone awry. leaders, including the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have rightly deemed the Trump-incited storming of the Capitol building as an insurrection that is inconsistent with the rule of law.

Insurgency vs insurrection