We reported earlier that the January 6th Committee showed trials were continuing on Thursday. The most talked about and dramatic moment (on the left as well as in the media) was when the committee showed a video of Senator Josh Hawley (R.Mo.). Jogging out of Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, the day of the Capitol Riot, with other members and staff.
The short clips were shown just before Hawley’s appearance. It showed Hawley raising his fist in the air the day before the riot started. This image has been widely portrayed in The Usual Suspects as Hawley supporting “white supremacist” rioters. The insinuation that he was involved in an intricate conspiracy to disrupt the Congressional certification vote was clear.
Check out this video and photo to see how NBC News helped the committee.
Sen. Josh Hawley raised his fist to protesters outside the Capitol on Jan. 6. A Capitol Police officer who was present said the gesture “riled up the crowd.”
Hawley fled the Capitol later that day after the barricades were breached, video shows. https://t.co/ESArRv4BJP pic.twitter.com/PnDlYCVSb9
— NBC News (@NBCNews) July 22, 2022
“Hawley fled” is a fascinating spin on what was ultimately a light jog. But I digress.
Some of Hawley’s most vehement critics created Twitter memes based on the photo and video, suggesting that Hawley “cowardly” fled from the crime scene after allegedly “inciting” and instigating the events that occurred that day.
Hawley, at this stage in the game, is used to the far right’s continual harassment of him and his family over doing what House Democrats, including Jamie Raskin, did in the three previous presidential elections Republicans won through exercising his right to object to electoral votes.
Hawley responded on Twitter by posting a link to a fundraiser for a mug. It features a cartoon rendering the now-famous raised-fist image, along with the words “Show-Me Strong” – a reference to Missouri’s “Show-Me State”.
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) July 22, 2022
Interestingly enough, none of Hawley’s critics seem to have any problem with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., doing her own version on Tuesday after her “arrest.” During a protest outside the Supreme Court, although many readers will recall that she once considered a raised fist dangerous for democracy or something.
“Putting your hands behind your back is a best practice while detained”
That explains why you followed up with the @HawleyMO raised fist… Huh?
Per your standards, should we expel you from public office? pic.twitter.com/FIQt1vz4kZ
— Joe Stubbs (@joey_stubb) July 20, 2022
“Rules for thee, not me” applies as always.
In any case, though haters will hate – and that includes Politico media outlet which has threatened Hawley to sue him for repeated use of their photo – Hawley’s going to keep trollin’, and we will absolutely be there for it.
