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For the first time in the USA’S history the Confederate flag has appeared inside the marble halls of the Capitol.
On Wednesday 6th January 2021 Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the US Capitol, with an image being captured of one protester carrying the Confederate flag which caught the attention of the world. This was the first time in history that that the flag, that holds with it great national controversy, was carried through the halls of the Capitol.
Being one of the most iconic images captured during the evening's protest, it demonstrates the problems people face in the U.S, but also in the wider world. In more recent history, the flag has been used as an umbrella to promote extreme views, in some cases white supremacy and the social and political exclusion of other races.
The Confederate flag originated during the Civil War in 1861. However, it was only in the 20th century where it emerged as a political symbol in the context of writing a new narrative remembering the war.
The flag represented the seven southern Confederate States of America (CSA) that seceded from the union in 1861 after Abraham Lincoln succeeded in the election and became president. Later on, four more states joined them in the departure from the union. Lincoln was in favour of banning slavery in the US territories which were not states. But the Southern states were heavily dependant on slave labour, seeing this as a grander plan to abolish slavery completely and thereby an attack on their constitutional rights.
Consequently, a four-year war began that lasted from 1861 until 1865 ending with the defeat of the Confederate states. The Civil War is known to have been the deadliest war in America, costing the lives of approximately 620,000 soldiers and leaving millions more injured with vast amounts of the South in ruins.
Donald Trump has been accused of influencing the thousands of people to go to the Capitol to demonstrate their upset about the 2020 election results.
“We’re going to walk down to the Capitol and we’re going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women and we’re probably not going to be cheering so much for some of them”.
As Trump said from behind a protective clear shield as he wrapped up his remarks.
“We’re never going to take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength and you have to be strong. “
Despite the events of this week, some Americans are still choosing Trump over democracy. With the Prime Minister weighing in on the issue stating ‘Trump was completely wrong.’
Only a few days into the new year and it seems that the societal problem of racism needs to be addressed once again. As the world waits to see if the transition of presidency will be a peaceful one, does Donald Trump have anything else up his sleeve?
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