“When the men with guns who have always claimed to be against the system start wearing uniforms and marching with torches and pictures of a leader, the end is nigh. When the pro-leader paramilitary and the official police and military intermingle, the end has come.”
These are chilling words for a country that experienced a failed coup attempt on January 6, 2021, by insurrectionist Trump supporters. Six Seattle police officers were known to be present during the coup attempt, including Caitlin and Alexander Everett, who were later fired for their involvement (source).
In his YouTube video about this lesson, Snyder argues that “a failed coup is practice for a successful coup.” As Trump runs for a second Presidential term and will not state explicitly that he will accept the election results, whatever they may be, we must be aware of this and be prepared for another potential coup attempt (and be wary of paramilitaries in general). In 2020, there was a coordinated plan among business, labor, and democracy defenders to ensure the election and systems around the election were fair, measured, and effective (source). This time around, we must all do what we can to defend democracy and continue to ensure free and fair elections.
Hear Timothy Snyder speak about this lesson on YouTube.
This lesson was letterpress printed in Pantone 137 ink on a Vandercook proofing press.
