Worst Attack on the Capitol by Tom Reynolds
Nancy Pelosi referred to January 6th, 2021 as the “Worst attack on the Capitol since the War of 1812.” Oh really?
On November 7, 1983, a blast went off on the second floor of the U.S. Capitol’s north wing. According to one estimate, the bomb caused $1 million in damage. Later, National Public Radio received a message from a group calling itself the Armed Resistance Unit (ARU) which took credit for the attack. “We purposely aimed our attack at the institutions of imperialist rule …”
The ARU was the May 19th Communist Organization, a group of self-described “revolutionary anti-imperialists” formed in the late 1970’s. The group was also the first American terrorist group entirely organized and led by women. Women picked the targets, made the bombs and implanted the devices. Its new sisterhood to replace sororities!
May 19th was responsible for a string of violent operations from 1979 to 1985: armed robberies that led to the murder of police officers and security guards, prison breakouts and a bombing campaign that, in addition to the U.S. Capitol, targeted government buildings in Washington and New York.
After a five-year investigation, in May 1988 FBI agents arrested seven members of the “Resistance Conspiracy”. They were charged with executing the Capitol bombing as well as triggering similar blasts at Fort McNair and the Washington Navy Yard. All were eventually sentenced to lengthy prison terms for these or related crimes.
Susan Rosenberg was one of them and on January 20, 2001, on his last day in office, Bill Clinton commuted her sentences. Wikipedia has referred to her as an “American activist, writer, advocate for social justice and prisoners’ rights and a former terrorist.” You would think “former terrorist” is not the kind of title you’d have on your resume, but in some professions, such experience is an asset. As of 2020, Rosenberg served as vice chair of the board of directors of Thousand Currents, a non-profit foundation that provides institutional support and raises funds for Black Lives Matter.
On March 1, 1954, four Puerto Rican communists walked into the US Capitol building. The three men and one woman were not wearing buffalo horns or carrying Qanon flags. Instead, they unfurled a Puerto Rican flag – and then pulled out their guns.
Rep. Alvin Bentley (R-MI) was shot in the chest. Rep. Ben Jensen (R-IA) was shot in the back. Rep. Clifford Davis (D-TN) sustained an injury to the leg. Rep. George Fallon (D-MD) was shot in his hip. And Rep. Kenneth Roberts (D-AL) was “kneecapped” by a bullet.
Rep. James Van Zandt (R-PA), who was a 56-year-old World War I veteran at the time, personally tackled and captured one of the gunmen. (Apparently, Congress was made of sterner stuff back then.) Van Zandt didn’t just curl up on the floor and cry like several congresspersons did on January 6th, he charged in and got ‘er done!
The four Puerto Rican shooters were charged with insurrection and attempted murder. They were all given 40- to 50-year prison sentences for their crimes. Jimmy Carter pardoned them all in 1977. The governments of Mexico and Cuba pinned medals on the four insurrectionists for shooting Members of Congress inside the US Capitol and for attempting to topple the American government through violent action.
The bullet holes in the chamber are still there, but you can’t see them these days because Nancy Pelosi still won’t let visitors in the building because of the “Worst attack on the Capitol since the War of 1812”.
It is noteworthy that the Puerto Rican shooters were charged with insurrection. Pelosi has also said that January 6th was an insurrection but, to date, no one has been charged with insurrection or treason. Question: can you have an insurrection if no one “insurrects”?
It’s also noteworthy that January 6th has not been used as a basis for Pelosi (and friends) to call for more gun control. Oh wait – none of the “insurrectionists” thought to bring a gun to the insurrection. Apparently, the January 6th insurrectionists were really bad at insurrecting. Perhaps Pelosi should call for banning buffalo horns?
