Distinguish rioters from protesters

Near the end of the second paragraph, the Jan. 2 front-page article “Poll: Views of Capitol riot split on party lines” referred to “convicted protesters” and later referred to “protesters.” Please, please, don’t ever write that again.

The protesters went to the rally and then left. The people who have been convicted were rioters, insurrectionists, participants in a mob, trespassers, brawlers, hooligans, assailants. Saying they were protesters is like calling enslavers “employers” and gives cover to the people who called them peaceful and tourists and orderly.

Please, in the name of accurate and precise reporting, just stop.

Joan Hartman Moore, Alexandria