MILLIONS across the world watched the horrific scenes of violence in Washington DC this week. These events were supported and inspired by Donald Trump.

Despite the violence and intimidation, Joe Biden will still be the next president of the United States. 

Trump and his supporters bear the ultimate responsibility for the four deaths that resulted in the invasion of Capitol Hill. Far-right and Nazi groups were central to the actions. The far right were in Washington of as part of a nationally planned “stop the steal” mobilisation.

The likes of Boris Johnson and Priti Patel hypocritically voiced disapproval of last night’s acts by Trump’s supporters. Yet they have have failed to condemn Trump. Perhaps this would be too embarrassing given the backing various Tories have given Trump. Johnson once suggested Trump be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize — the week’s events show just how ridiculous that statement was.

Many have rightly pointed out that the level of policing on Capital Hill would have been very different if it was Black Lives Matter that had organised the protest. 

Last year saw police and federal agents mobilised en masse to oppose and break the resistance that exploded onto the streets after the death of George Floyd. That anti-racist explosion was fanned by the hugely disproportionate deaths among black communities. 

Covid-19 conspiracists have supported Trump’s handling of the crisis. They include notorious adherents of QAnon, and the fascist Proud Boys. 

Republicans who have spent years backing Trump’s agenda have no explanation for his effective backing of the riot on Capital Hill. Four members of his White House staff have resigned over the president’s comments.

Just 50 arrests took place. Perhaps not so shocking after viewing the way many police facilitated the Trump and neonazi fanatics. It shouldn’t be too much of a surprise that this occurred. 

Trump has cheered on those who promised to “install a dictatorship.” He may not be a fascist but those who follow his lead include many who are — including the sickening wearer of a “Camp Auschwitz” hoodie.

Republican Congresswoman Mary Miller made a speech abhorrently suggesting at one moment that “Hitler was right about one thing.” Thus, the far-right riot was sanctioned from the  top. The forces that made Black Lives Matter so inspiring last year, will be central in pushing back racists and the far-right after Trump’s presidency.

Washington DC now faces emergency powers till just after the January 20 inauguration of Biden. Tellingly, traditional Republican bodies likes the American Chamber of Commerce called on Trump to “respect the vote.” Many of Trump’s “respectable” supporters have clearly been shocked.

Thus, numerous questions must be asked.

Given that this was openly prepared online for days, why were the authorities so unprepared? The US president was tweeting about it, so it was hardly unknown.

Why were open white supremacists allowed to threaten and intimidate black people on the streets on Washington and attack the government’s ruling institutions?

Why, given the pandemic, were the large crowds not ordered to disperse?

Trump has emboldened the racist and fascist right. Many have pledged to continue to mobilise. A rise in US far-right activity and even terrorism is a real possibility. 

Racism of course plays an enormous role in the light-handed approach to these Trump supporters by the police and others. The dangerous scenes remind us again why #BlackLivesMatter is so important. This movement represents a historic breakthrough — the biggest explosion of anti-racist activity in history. It’s crucial that the movement continues to grow. 

Trump supporters and their like-minded followers elsewhere like “Tommy Robinson” will look to take their lead from such insurrectionary acts. 

The dramatic, shocking and worrying events this week at Capitol Hill show the urgent need for a mass, broad, united anti-racist movement to come together in the US. This is essential to take on the racists, far-right and fascists whom Trump has emboldened and drive them back — as we have seen in the examples from Greece, Austria, Britain and elsewhere.

Stand Up to Racism (and Unite Against Fascism) stand in full solidarity with all who will continue to fight the power in the US. 

UN anti-racism day on March 20,  backed by the TUC in Britain and by a growing coalition of anti-racist groups internationally including across the US, has just assumed even greater importance. 

Weyman Bennett is co-convener of Stand Up To Racism.