Wolves in sheep’s clothing?

The sights and sounds of January 6, 2021 are etched into our minds for the remainder of our lives and will no doubt be read about and retold for eternity. This was no ordinary Wednesday. It could be classified as one of the worst, if not the worst day yet, in American history.

But as we contemplate what went wrong and reflect on the differential response and treatment, we should keep our minds open to the possibility that there isn't one sole explanation or just one take away from the days events and how police responded. Certainly it is fair to say that had the mob been comprised of Black Lives Matter and aligned persons, the response may have been significantly different. I believe it would have been. But there may be many more points of failure, blame and cause for concern, including failures, distractions, or even intentional neglect at the leadership levels within the federal agencies and offices involved. 

But our search for an explanation shouldn't stop at bias or scapegoating. Encounters between police and far-right groups over the last several months and in recent years have raised eyebrows and caused some to consider whether there is much more beneath the surface. Some of these groups have long identified with the Blue Lives Matter flag and slogans that suggest they support the police. The footage of January 6th is rife with these flags and emblems. Could it be that a part of the explanation for the lack of preparedness involves an overidentification or level of comfort with these groups? Have we been fooled to think that just because you carry a supportive slogan or flag that you're not capable of violence? 

Some may be familiar with recent news stories about chiefs and officers expressing openness to these groups, giving them water, or treating them differently during protests and in response to civil disorder. It's quite clear that there is a greater level of comfort with these groups and individuals then there are with groups expressing opposition and antagonism towards police. 

So, was it pure bias that played a role in the police response or did someone mistake a pack of wolves for a flock of sheep? 

Setting aside January 6th for a moment, one thing is clear. Law enforcement's apparent tendency to be more comfortable with far-right groups carrying Blue Lives Matter slogans and symbols is wrong and not only presents a threat to officer and community safety but to the legitimacy of democratic policing. The police cannot take sides and must not take sides with groups claiming or projecting a supportive image. This video demonstrates how thin that support may be, if there ever was support to begin with. We must earn our support from everyone equally and to the extent we do that, we will all be safer and our democracy will be stronger.