Was January 6 an “insurrection”? Why weaponizing words imperils the future of our democracy
The Daily Article
The Denison Forum
4.9 • 576 Ratings
🗓️ 4 January 2024
⏱️ 8 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
As the third anniversary of the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol approaches, attention is being focused on the question: Was it an “insurrection”? The question matters enormously since two states have now barred former President Trump from appearing on their election ballots after claiming that he participated in such an action on January 6. And there’s an even more foundational issue here that speaks to the future of our democracy.
Author: Jim Denison, PhD
Narrator: Chris Elkins
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Greetings and welcome to the Daily Article podcast for Thursday, January the 4th, 2024. |
| 0:07.7 | I'm Chris Elkins narrating today's article written by Denison Forum co-founder and CEO, Dr. Jim Denison. |
| 0:15.7 | As the third anniversary of the January 6th, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol approaches. |
| 0:23.0 | Attention is being focused on the question, was it an insurrection? |
| 0:27.8 | As of October the 22nd, the approximate losses from the events of that day totaled more |
| 0:33.2 | than $2,881,360. Approximately 140 police officers were assaulted, more than 1,100 people have been |
| 0:43.6 | charged in connection with the event, and more than 600 have pleaded guilty to federal charges. |
| 0:50.1 | Five people died in the riot. But was it an insurrection? The question matters enormously since two states have now barred former President Trump |
| 0:59.0 | from appearing on their election ballot after claiming that he participated in such an action on January 6th. |
| 1:06.0 | They cited Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which forbids those who previously held office but have engaged |
| 1:13.2 | in insurrection or rebellion against the United States from holding office again. |
| 1:18.6 | Section 3 does not specifically include the presidency among its listed offices, leading some to |
| 1:24.5 | argue that it does not apply to Mr. Trump. Others question whether the January 6th event constitutes an insurrection. |
| 1:32.4 | If it does not, they claim that Section 3 does not apply to the former presidents. |
| 1:37.7 | The latter question is obviously relevant to our national politics, |
| 1:41.7 | but there's an even more foundational issue here that speaks to the future of our democracy. |
| 1:46.7 | The Cambridge Dictionary defines insurrection as an organized attempt by a group of people to defeat their government and take control of their country, usually by violence. |
| 1:59.7 | I want to emphasize the three elements that make up this definition, an organized attempt, |
| 2:05.4 | defeat their government and take control of their country, and violence. |
| 2:10.2 | Some point to the violence of January 6th as justifying this description. |
| 2:14.7 | Others claim that the object of the riot was to prevent a legitimate |
| 2:19.0 | president-elect from assuming office, thus constituting an insurrection by virtue of the second |
... |
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