Investigate security response in D.C. attack

Like many, we were shocked and dismayed by the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6 and the resulting desecration of one of the nation’s sacred institutions of government. These acts by domestic terrorists were in no small part sanctioned and instigated by the words and actions of the president of the United States.

We are also saddened at the lack of security and police actions to contain and confront the crowd. The response was nothing short of negligent and we hope there will be a full investigation of the preparations made for the ceremonial counting of the electoral votes and the resulting response to the attack. We are stunned at the lack of urgency seemingly imposed on the response to the rioters who were allowed access to confidential and securitysensitive areas and documents.

It was shocking to see the police response to those who were apprehended after breaching the perimeters of the building. For about four hours, they were allowed to roam the halls of the building. The policing force was overwhelmed and quickly overrun. That hardly any arrests were made and that only a small number of people were detained after this invasion is surprising.

The response stands in stark contrast to that of the peaceful protesters who marched in support of police reform in 2020. From the preparations, to the show of strength in numbers in police presence, to the confrontation of the marchers and also to the numbers and methods used to effectuate arrest, the actions of law enforcement officers were much different.

There seems to be a double standard in the way this attack was handled and we look forward to a full review of policing and security procedures. – Trelvis D. Randolph,

president, Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Bar Association,

Miami