To the Editor:

Brian Sicknick wanted to be a police officer all his life. He joined the Capitol Police in 2008 after honorably serving in the New Jersey National Guard, having been deployed to Saudi Arabia and Kyrgyzstan during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

During the recent Washington riot, he was hit on the head with a fire extinguisher. Apparently thinking he would be fine, he returned to his office. He later collapsed and died becoming only the fourth Capitol policeman to be killed in the line of duty since that force was founded in 1828.

Who killed Brian Sicknick?

Ashli Babbitt was a 35-year-old Air Force veteran who was shot and killed during the riot of Jan. 6.

Just before the riot, in a video, she is seen walking along with a beautiful smile on her young face as she talks lovingly of President Trump. In a second video a gun is seen flashing and she drops to the floor, bleeding to death, inside the Capitol building.

Ashli had once voted for Barack Obama and felt a deep love for her country. How did this beautiful young woman come to take part in such a hateful event?

Who killed Ashli Babbitt?

The answer is clear: Donald J. Trump and his enablers!

These and others died because of fear and anger stoked by false claims about an election being stolen and America under attack by “very bad people.” Attacks on the news media, the FBI, Trump’s political opponents and others, all while proclaiming he was being threatened by a mysterious and dangerous “Deep State,” fanned the fires leading to this tragedy.

However, Trump was not alone.

Over the past 30 years, charlatans of every sort have made fortunes peddling groundless and inflammatory lies and conspiracy theories, via talk radio, Fox News, right-wing websites, books and on Facebook.

They have talked, even screamed, about America being stolen by Democrats, death panels in the health care bill, birtherism, freedom being lost, Christianity under attack, Sharia Law about to be imposed, citizens about to be “taken to a place and slaughtered” claims that the Sandy Hill massacre was a hoax designed to disarm Americans, disgusting allegations about a Clinton-run pizza parlor sex ring, Obama portrayed as a closet Muslim and hundreds, if not thousands of conspiracy theories, all capped off with baseless, unproven talk of a stolen election and the need for “2nd Amendment remedies.”

Wave their flags though they may, these people and those that support them, are the true killers of Officer Brian Sicknick and Ashlie Babbitt.

Will this egregious assault on democracy change Trump or his supporters?

In spite of the violence created, the needless deaths, the total lack of credible evidence the election was stolen, roaming gangs destroying property in the nation’s capital, mobs calling for the killing of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the hanging of Vice President Pence – in spite of all this, six Republican senators and over 100 House Republicans, nevertheless, voted to refuse to accept the results of the Electoral College, thus continuing to sow baseless doubt about the election.

They, and many others, however, do express their disgust at the violence. The arsonists are now posing as firefighters!

Will they change?

Friday, after the riot, Republicans met and installed a Trump pick to lead the party. Ronna Romney McDaniel lavishly praised Trump as did GOP members from all over the country. They piously prayed that this sort of thing never happen again but not a word was said about Trump’s role in the attack. Many baselessly blamed leftist groups.

The highlight of the event was Trump speaking to members via phone and video where he received an enthusiastic reception and again recited his grievances. During the call someone shouted out, “We love you!”

Charles Lawrence

Johnston