On January 5th, 2025, IPK Fellow A.J. Bauer penned an opinion piece for The Philadelphia Inquirer titled “As Trump prepares for a second term, how should we remember Jan. 6 now?” Read the excerpt below, then click for the full article.

According to the narrative proffered by right-wing media, Trump and the hundreds of other riot participants who faced criminal charges for their activities that day did nothing wrong. They are victims of the same “deep state” conspiracy that they had gathered to oppose on Jan. 6, or “political prisoners” of an illegitimate Biden administration.

For the rest of us, Jan. 6 has been a cautionary tale. The “Final Report of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol” highlights the cracks and loopholes in our legal system, as well as right-wing organizing efforts, that dovetailed to threaten the ongoing integrity of our electoral system. Remembering that day has meant remaining cognizant of these vulnerabilities while taking solace in the failure of Trump and his mob to prevent a Biden presidency.

Like the famed “star-spangled banner,” Jan. 6 has thus far been a symbol of our democracy’s fragile resilience.

Read the full article here.

Photo Credits: Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer