‘Mob mentality’ lurks behind insurrection of better judgment at times

Blame the “mob mentality.” This handy excuse has become the new legal defense for many of the rioters, I mean patriots, who attacked the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6.

“We’ve heard ‘mob mentality’ — and he describes it to a T,” said the defense attorney for one of the rioters.

Christopher Grider, who’s accused of helping to break a glass door to the House chamber, never planned to storm the building, his lawyer said in court filings.

Grider, a 39-year-old former teacher from Texas, was formally charged with violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. He claims his actions that day — storming the Capitol with a “Don’t Tread on Me” flag wrapped around his neck as lawmakers ran for their lives — were not his fault, according to an Associated Press story.

“He would never have anticipated finding himself in the situation, but for the president and the rally and the way everything went down,” said his attorney, Brent Mayr.

So, I ask you, Grider had no plans that day of invading the symbolic house of the people and pillaging anything in sight? He had no opportunity to stop and think as hundreds of rioters broke through police barricades and attacked officers with angry chants of “Hang Mike Pence” and “Stop the Steal?”

Really? Blame the rally? The president? The mob mentality? It’s a lame defense strategy. It’s also the same defense that’s been used by generations of people who eventually figured out they were on the wrong side of history. Racism, sexism, homophobia, holy wars, hate crimes, religious bigotry, and yes, presidential politics — these are all historic examples of a mob mentality.

It’s so much easier to do the wrong thing when other likeminded people do it with you. Not to mention the convenient rationalizations that can be shared by thousands or millions of fools who once believed they were heroes. Go back into history as far as you want to find example after example of a mob mentality that compelled us to do misguided, immoral or horrific actions.

Travel back as recently as the riots and looting in the summer of 2020 (not the peaceful protests over police brutality and the Black Lives Matter movement). Or back to the racial violence during the Civil Rights Movement. Or back to Nazi Germany when millions of people got caught up in the mob mentality of mass genocide and world domination. Or go further back in time to the despicable horrors of slavery in our country, which once was considered status quo and perfectly fine by people who worshipped Jesus Christ.

There are times when I am transferring my fiance’s dog from its leash to another type of lockup in our yard when I ponder how many endless generations of humans did the same thing to other humans

— casually, habitually and shamelessly. It’s deceiving to think how advanced we are as a species when simultaneously we are still so primitive, even more so than animals at times.

Let’s face the unshackled truth: we choose our mobs, and we choose which mob mentality to follow, then later to blame.

Grider is among at least a dozen Capitol riot defendants identified by Associated Press who have claimed their presence in the building was a result of being “caught up” in the hysteria of the crowd, or that they were pushed inside by sheer force. This alibi is sheer bull- (expletive).

This kind of lemming-like thinking is partly why former President Donald Trump came into political power in the first place and why he retains much of that power today over his loyal followers. They need someone to follow, something to believe in, and somewhere to converge with their anger, hopes, fears, prayers and ideologies.

The same can be said for many followers of President Joe Biden, who represents a counter type of groupthink to the Trump sycophants. The left-leaning mob mentality of Trump Derangement Syndrome drove many of us, myself included, toward any presidential administration that wasn’t named Trump.

Similarly, there are elements of the ongoing “woke movement” that reflect a mob mentality, rather than its merits of origin — a predictable backlash caused by an oppressive narrative of prejudice and discrimination against marginalized groups. If you’re not able to see the broader picture about this societal backlash, you’re either in denial or you’re not among any group that’s been oppressed by a mob mentality majority.

“Social scientists have long observed how individuals can act in ways they never would on their own when they are in crowds of like-minded people who are whipped into a frenzy,” that AP story stated. “For some, blaming the mob is part of an attempt to restore reputations tarnished by their presence at an event of such infamy.”

More than 400 Americans have been charged in the Jan. 6 insurrection riots, the largest prosecution in the history of the U.S. Justice Department. Grider insists he traveled to Washington, D.C., with no intention of any criminal intentions or acts. Maybe he’s telling the truth. Maybe not.

Either way, this latest example illustrates the power of a mob mentality that lurks behind the insurrection of our own better judgment at times.

Not enough photos?

“Hey Jerry, why was there only one photo for your Tuesday story on Ringo’s Golf Center? It’s been a landmark destination site for thousands of golfers over the years. Come on!” — Frank Manson

Hey Frank, other readers have asked similar questions about photos. The print version of my columns typically has fewer photos than the digital versions, which you can find on my webpage, at www.chicago tribune.com/suburbs/chi-jerrydavich-staff.html. You can also view more photos, and occasional videos, on my Facebook page.

Thanks for asking, and thanks for reading.