SUPD 1032 The Immigrant Sergeant, who defended democracy: Aquilino Gonell
Stand Up! with Pete Dominick
Pete Dominick
4.8 • 1.2K Ratings
🗓️ 2 February 2024
⏱️ 41 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
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“American Shield is an all-American tale of duty and determination—beautifully told by an immigrant, a veteran, and a patriot.” —Nancy Pelosi, Speaker Emerita of the United States House of Representatives
Set against the extraordinary events of January 6, 2021, Aquilino Gonell’s inspirational memoir is rooted in the joys and struggles of the immigrant experience that have long defined the American experiment
Aquilino Gonell came to the United States from the Dominican Republic as a young boy. Although he spoke no English, he dedicated himself to his adopted land, striving for the American dream. Determined to be a success story, he joined the army to pay for college. He saw action in Iraq and returned home with PTSD. Believing in the promise of our government, he focused on healing himself and supporting his family. His hard work paid off when he landed a coveted position with the United States Capitol Police and rose to the rank of sergeant.
January 6, 2021, changed everything. When insurrectionists stormed the Capitol, Gonell bravely faced down the mob attempting to thwart the peaceful transfer of power. The brutal injuries he sustained that day would end his career in law enforcement. But when some of the very people he put his life on the line to protect downplayed or denied the truth of that day, he chose to speak out against the injustice done to him and the country. Chronicling what it means to live a life of conviction, one that adheres to the best ideas of our democracy, American Shield is a bold testament to the power of truth, justice, and accountability from a highly decorated officer and immigrant who exemplifies the greatest aspirations of a grateful nation.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | And I'm |
| 0:02.0 | Hello my friends and I'm sorry for any of you who were concerned when I sent out an email last night |
| 0:06.2 | said I was cancelling the hangout. I appreciate everybody always reaching out to me. I don't always give explanations, |
| 0:11.2 | but everything is fine with me.'m all right everything is good I've |
| 0:15.2 | been spending a week helping out an old friend who has had a relapse on drugs and that's all I can tell you except that it's been pretty all-consuming |
| 0:25.9 | and trying to help out as much as I can and everybody listening to me knows what this is. |
| 0:32.9 | We all have it in our lives or our families and our friends and we all do our best to support those people |
| 0:40.0 | and when it comes up and if you can give of yourself time or resources or love or |
| 0:45.6 | heart or listening you do whatever you can we all do and so that's what I've been |
| 0:50.7 | been up to mostly and that's why I couldn't really do the hang out. |
| 0:53.4 | Also last night I found out around the time the hang out would have been that we lost a legend. |
| 0:59.2 | Joe Madison who was a mentor and a friend to me for a long time when we were together at serious |
| 1:05.2 | XM passed away and that was really hit me hard so I'll have more to say about Joe and |
| 1:10.9 | what he meant to me but I was in no place to host the hangout. |
| 1:14.4 | I love to keep the hangouts, pretty upbeat and pretty fun as much as possible while we debate |
| 1:19.2 | and discuss and talk about serious issues but there's always that theme and every once in a great |
| 1:24.0 | while I can't bring it and if I can't bring it then I won't I won't try I won't fake it |
| 1:29.1 | for you guys I'm doing good I'm doing great but it means I haven't been able to work as much as I normally do the |
| 1:35.3 | last couple of days but I do have a great conversation right now for you and tomorrow I'll |
| 1:41.1 | have Christian and O'Fira, |
| 1:43.0 | so no fear and thank you for your support. |
| 1:46.7 | I am good, I love you, and I appreciate everybody's support. |
... |
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