Protestors storm the Capitol building during a joint session of Congress in Washington, DC on Wednesday, January 6, 2021. The joint session of the House and Senate was sent to recess after the breach as it convened to confirm the Electoral College votes cast in November s election. (Photo by Chris Kleponis/Sipa USA)(Sipa via AP Images)
(CNN) With most Americans hoping this week’s expected inauguration protests look nothing like the Capitol siege, questions emerge about unrestrained free expression, long championed by First Amendment theorists as a benefit to society, no matter how ugly and hateful.
The optics may be disturbing, especially so soon after the riot, with the potential of protesters many of like mind with those who stormed the Capitol screaming, or worse, at troops and police standing guard outside the razor wire-topped fences surrounding the Capitol.
At the beginning of 2021, millions of Americans appear to disagree about one of the most basic facts of their democracy: that Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election. The consequences of Donald Trump’s repeated, baseless claims of voter fraud will come in several waves, researchers who study disinformation say , even if Trump ultimately hands over power and leaves the White House. And there is no quick or easy way to fix this crisis , they.