In the Wake of January 6, History Faculty Lead Teach-In on Democracy and White Supremacy

The January 6 insurrection at the United States Capitol was yet another violent reminder of the white supremacist ideas and institutions that have stood in the way of America’s democratic ideals since before the nation began. A teach-in organized by UC Davis student leaders in the wake of the attack showed how the humanities are crucial for promoting a deeper understanding of the history of white supremacy and efforts to resist it.

At the virtual event coordinated by History Club President Robb Ridgeley and Vice President Aubrey Schoeman, UC Davis historians David Biale, Gregory Downs, Justin Leroy, Kathryn Olmsted, and Eric Rauchway each spoke briefly on a related topic, then invited questions from the over 200 attendees. The discussion touched on the historical context and precedent for the events of January 6 and ideas for moving forward.

Historical Precedent for the Attack on the Capitol

Rauchway argued that the time between a new president’s election and inauguration is outdated and dangerous, allowing outgoing presidents to seek revenge through actions that incoming presidents are powerless to stop. 

As an example, he discussed a prior disruption of the democratic process that occurred during that period: the 2000 Miami-Dade County riot incited by Republican staffers to stop a recount that could have changed the result of the Bush-Gore presidential race. Rauchway pointed out that if Al Gore, who has devoted his career to combating climate change, had taken office in 2001 instead of George W. Bush, “we would likely be in a very different position than the one we’re in today.”

Reaching back further to draw parallels to the Reconstruction period, Downs described how that era saw both the potential for a lasting rise in Black political power and an accompanying politics of white “Redemption” involving an increase in racist paramilitary violence. He added that some have called the Civil Rights Movement a “second Reconstruction” and the rise of Donald Trump and his followers a “second Redemption.”

Biale argued that while “historical analogies are always fraught and never precise,” the case of Weimar Germany provides several cautionary lessons for understanding the contemporary violent moment. For example, he went on, it was then that the Nazis “discovered the politics of the big lie. Telling your supporters over and over again something that is demonstrably false can actually work.” Much as Trump has repeatedly accused President Biden of trying to steal the election, the Nazis accused the Jews of the very thing that they were doing themselves: attempting to seize global control. 

Taking Action and Envisioning Paths Forward

Attendees asked questions about how to move forward from the attack in ways that preserve democratic ideals, challenge authoritarianism, and begin to heal from a history of domination in the United States.

Olmsted said that to combat the disinformation Trump has used to claim power, each of us must “be an activist for truth.” She cited conspiracy theories that fueled the pro-Trump mob, including QAnon, the “Plandemic” theory, and the false claim that the election had been stolen. Asked about other ways to combat the circulation of dangerous misinformation, Olmsted argued that deplatforming (for example, barring Trump from Twitter) can be effective in the short term.

Leroy called for an approach to addressing white supremacy that also resists increased policing. Comparing the lenient and even sympathetic police response at the Capitol with the aggressive militarized response to last summer’s Black Lives Matter protests, Leroy said that frustration with the lack of accountability for white supremacist violence is understandable. 

However, he argued, Biden’s call for increased anti-terrorism efforts perpetuates the problem it claims to address. “Using anti-terrorism legislation to expand the US government’s ability to police and surveil white supremacists will ultimately harm those who are organizing for social justice,” he said. “We can’t police our way out of white supremacy.”

While this History Department teach-in was not recorded, several recordings of recent events on democracy, authoritarianism, and abolition are available on the DHI’s YouTube channel. For more on the contemporary and historical struggle to resist white supremacy, check out the DHI’s roundup of abolitionist resources.