Pitt holds MLK Day discussion on 'Race, Justice and Politics after the Capitol Siege'

Plenty of Americans are still trying to make sense of the attack on the Capitol, six days into a new year preceded by a year of racial tension and political uncertainty.

They are in good company.

As part of a special Martin Luther King Jr. Day event, a panel of distinguished University of Pittsburgh educators took part Monday in an online discussion called “What Just Happened? Race, Justice, and Politics after the Capitol Siege.”

Sponsored by Pitt’s Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and the Center on Race and Social Problems, the event included strong opening remarks from Provost Ann E. Cudd.

“Our Capitol was infiltrated and violently tarnished as the symbols of racism and white supremacy were so brazenly displayed,” said Cudd. “We are a people at the brink of war with each other, violently at odds over the nature of patriotism and the meaning of Democracy.”

Panelist Clyde Wilson Pickett, vice-chancellor, Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, said this is more than an occasion to reflect on the siege calling it a chance to “move our efforts forward” in the spirit of Dr. King.

“It was Dr. King who reminded us that our lives begin to end the day we become silent on things that matter,” said Pickett who emphasized that the attack on the Capitol must be identified for what it is – an attack on Democracy.

“We have a responsibility to speak truth to power and to do our best to not be silent and to speak about the attempted attack on American Democracy and to bring truth to our fellow citizens,” said Pickett. “The incidents of Jan. 6, 2021 also confirmed a double standard that many of us knew to be true – that the planning and response of law enforcement to those protesting on matters of Black issues and concern is met with weapons, ammunition and tanks whereas a siege on the nation’s Capitol by armed terrorists was met by little resistance, confusion and in, certain situations, selfies. This is unacceptable.”

Another panelist, associate political science professor Kristin Kanthak said the “myth of white supremacy” is not only bad for Black people but it isn’t good for white people either.

“We saw this in the Capitol. The myth of white supremacy is what told these people that they could stroll off with the podium of the Speaker of the House and happily wave to the camera,” said Kanthak. “The myth of white supremacy told that realtor from Texas that she could storm the Capitol talking about how ‘this is war’ and then get on TV and order up a presidential pardon like it was a double macchiato.”

Panelist Tomar Pierson-Brown, associate dean for Equity and Inclusive Excellence at Pitt’s School of Law, said it was important to emphasize that the 2020 presidential election was not stolen.

“The election was marked by historic high levels of voter turnout, particularly from communities of color,” said Pierson-Brown. “If what we as a country desire is more Democracy, then we have to support efforts to end gerrymandering, overturn policies that prevent individuals with criminal records from voting and do everything we can to ensure that the voting populous of the electorate is as broad as the people of this nation.”

An online questioner asked how the Pitt academics would engage those in Pittsburgh, Altoona and Johnstown who still believe the election was stolen and remain misguided on race related issues? Pickett said he believes the university must form positive relationships with those communities.

“As we think about white communities in rural America and different areas, they see higher education as a disrupter of a way of life,” said Pickett. “As we think about higher education and how we can continue to respond, it’s about making ourselves and our interests available for the common and public good. “