To the 30 or so people who gathered on Thursday night, April 3, at the Portuguese Hall in Salinas, it seemed inevitable that they would feel like they were under siege. The group, convened by the Association of Monterey Bay Conservatives, had invited a group of six men, all sentenced to prison time for their roles in the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection and then pardoned by President Donald Trump, billed as “political hostages.” Three venues had already canceled.
By the time the day of the event arrived, organizers announced a plan that seemed designed to scramble protesters: Meet in a parking lot to get the event address in person.
“The misinformation surrounding the event has spiraled out of control, creating chaos and misunderstanding,” organizer Karen Reissman wrote in an emailed statement. “We are determined to create a platform for these men to share their stories.”
The alleged misinformation was unspecified, but I did want to hear their stories – even if, under any other presidential administration that was less nakedly motivated by quid pro quo deals, these men would be in prison, some for years. So along with Weekly Staff Writer Pam Marino, I tried to attend but we didn’t get past an enraged greeter at check-in. She called over one of three private security guards, yelling: “They are invading a private function!”
The irony was, I think, unintended.
I later watched a video of the event, and I learned there was an entirely different world inside, built on a false narrative.
The group of Jan. 6 insurrectionists are remorseless, and proud of what they did. “If I had to do it all over again, I would,” said James McGrew. (McGrew pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement officers based on a series of confrontations, according to the DOJ: “He was part of a crowd that overwhelmed law enforcement officers attempting to prevent rioters from advancing further on the restricted grounds. He proceeded to an area outside the Upper West Terrace doors to the Capitol Building. He filmed the scene, shouting ‘let’s go’ approximately 14 times, and ‘we took this thing.’” He was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison, and served a little under four.)
They are remorseless, and proud of what they did.
It’s not surprising that people charged with a crime claim their innocence. But the event revealed the degree to which Jan. 6 insurrectionists and their supporters continue striving to create an alternative reality – one in which the 2020 election really was stolen, in which Capitol police led them into a trap and in which they were righteous, not attempting to undermine the institutions that make our country great.
The presenters said they hoped to form a network – and some writing books, hosting podcasts and fundraising. (They’ve been kicked off of platforms like GoFundMe, so started using GiveSendGo.)
According to the DOJ, Edward Badalian wrote on Telegram: “If they’re guilty of treason they should be executed… Biden is definitely guilty of treason.” Badalian told the Association of Monterey Bay Conservatives: “I’m really glad to see that you guys are out here getting involved in grassroots politics. These kinds of meetings, this is how we take back California.”
Those comments left me feeling shaken; whatever your politics, certain institutional norms (like the peaceful transfer of power) are what hold our society together.
Outside, a group of about 25 protesters was angry, hurling insults as attendees entered or left the venue. One protester, Maria-Elena Cordero of Salinas, was different – she was less interested in confrontation than bridging the gap. “I was hoping to have a conversation with one of them,” she told me. “I would like to engage in civil discourse and ask serious questions. I don’t want to interrupt or swear at them, I want to talk, so I can understand what moved them to do what they did. My real goal is civil discourse. If we don’t have that, we are never going to get anywhere.”
The trouble, of course, is that the speakers on the inside are not interested in conversation. They blame “cancel culture” when venue organizers realize the event violates their regulations. They prohibit media from attending. It’s asymmetrical, with liars claiming misinformation. I don’t see how to have a conversation across that gulf.
(1) comment
This civil discourse lady is beginning to become obnoxious. As I pointed out in a previous post, try talking to them then. Do not attend as a protestor. There are certain norms that must be adhered to, one of which is to not corner someone when they are being accosted by a group of 25 people in an attempt to have a moment of conversation. What would have been more productive would be attending the event, then asking a question during the Q&A. Further, during Trump's first term, the country was constantly subjected to the idea of a Russian collusion, which was proven to be false. This was not peaceful at all, but began to stoke the fear of a tattered democracy. Fanning the flame of civil unrest. Memory-holed I suppose.
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