Editor’s Note: There were technical difficulties involved in this interview, so this piece is structured rather by providing background and presenting a paraphrased summary of the conversation with Officer Fanone, as this piece contains limited direct quotes.

January 6th, 2024 marked three years since a violent mob attacked the U.S. Capitol. Encouraged by former President Trump, as well as members of Congress, the mob was extremely disillusioned into thinking that the election of President Biden in November of 2020 was invalid or rigged. Earlier this semester, I had the honor to speak with Officer Michael Fanone, a previous Capitol officer, who was serving as a D.C. police officer on January 6th. Among many conversation topics, we focused on the strong and inescapable political polarization seen in the current political landscape of our country that has led to violence and the breaking of our democratic system. Contextualizing the January 6th insurrection allows us to understand its root causes and how we can prevent them in the future.

The January 6th insurrection has been studied by numerous scholars and can be attributed to three main forces: tribalism, negative partisanship, and a breakdown of government performance. The first main cause, tribalism, refers to a strong solidarity among individuals organized around a particular political group. President Biden took office at the forefront of our country's immense polarization. As a result, those on “the other side”, or the Republicans, felt that the rioting and violence that occurred was justified, as their new commander and chief would “end their way of life”. The second cause is negative partisanship. This is the idea that individuals only support or choose a side on policy issues due to their strong dislike for the opposing political party. This can be seen in the insurrection, when rioters demonized many Democrats and Democratic ideals as a justification for their actions. Lastly, the final cause is a breakdown of government performance. Due to the repeated pattern of an intensely divided Congress, many citizens feel that issues they face everyday have not been addressed. Legislative progress has been stalled and may have contributed to the sentiments of undermining the government, as displayed on January 6th.

These are only the primary few of many causes of the insurrection that took place when Congress was convening to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which former President Donald Trump lost to Joe Biden. Often referred to as a coup d’état or, as the Federal Bureau of Investigation deems it, an act of domestic terrorism, the insurrection started as a rally in a public park near the White House.  Trump and others spoke to the crowd about falsehoods and conspiracy theories about the “stolen” election, calling on his supporters to “fight like hell” or “you’re not going to have a country anymore”. 

Around 1:00 PM, the mob turned to Capitol grounds. They pushed through fences and barricades, forcing Capitol Police officers to retreat closer to the building. Many officers, both Capitol Police officers and reinforcements from the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia, were brutally beaten with bats, pipes, and flag poles. Many were sprayed with chemicals or trampled by insurrectionists. Just after 2:00 PM, the rioters broke into the Capitol building. They shattered windows, vandalized walls, and ransacked offices, as they looked for members of Congress. Minutes later, members of the House and Senate were notified of the capitol breach and fled, evacuated, or hid in the building. Around 6:00 PM, the District of Columbia National Guard was mobilized and the building was cleared. At that moment, most of the protesters walked away and investigations, hearings, and arrests followed. In the early morning hours of January 7th, Congress came back in session and the presidential election was certified.

What I have said thus far has been an extremely brief summary of the events that transpired. There are numerous stories, experiences, and perspectives that have not been included. However, recently, I had the great honor of meeting with Officer Fanone, a retired police officer who was there.

Fanone, a previous Capitol officer, was serving as a D.C. police officer on January 6th, 2021. In the afternoon, the department called and he and his partner, Jimmy Albright, rushed to the Capitol to provide backup. Relieving and supporting other officers who had been protecting the Capitol for hours, Fanone, along with many others, risked his life to protect his country. He was dragged down the Capitol’s steps, beaten with pipes, and teased with his own taser. Even more, he was sprayed with chemicals and threatened with his own gun. Officer Fanone recalls thinking about using his firearms on the attackers. However, he decided to appeal to “any humanity they might have” and instead said as loudly as he could, “I’ve got kids.” Someone in the crowd stepped in and a few individuals took him towards the Capitol, where fellow officers rescued him. Fanone was unconscious for minutes and later found out that he had suffered a heart attack, concussion, traumatic brain injury, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Since January 6th, Officer Fanone has used his experiences to embody a voice against political violence, especially the violent rhetoric that incited the attack. Specifically, he denounces MAGA (Make America Great Again) extremism in all its forms. During our conversation, I asked Officer Fanone to look towards the future and envision how political violence, like that seen during the insurrection and more broadly in the country, can be stopped. Officer Fanone was very explicit in his response. He told me that politicians who have incited violence must be held accountable and that “ordinary” people must use their fundamental right of voting to better our country. Speaking with Officer Fanone and understanding how deeply passionate he is about using one’s voice and voting for good was truly inspiring. All American citizens have a responsibility to vote, not only for the hundreds of individuals who risked their lives to protect our democracy and our country on January 6th, but to ourselves as well.

As we approach the 2024 presidential election, it is my hope that Officer Fanone’s story and this article encourage you to vote, if you were not planning to already. USAGov is the official guide to government information and services about voting. Further, the hyperlink above contains a directory to help you learn about the election process, register to vote, and determine what form you will vote through.