Another one bites the dust as Henry Enrique Tarrio is sentenced to 22 years for leading the proud boys in their attack on the Capitol on January 6th.
The judge — a Trump appointee — was stern but far too understanding and reserved his harshest criticism to Tarrio’s law team likening Tarrio’s actions to those of the founding fathers. Nothing makes conservative judges angrier than saying something they perceive as negative about the so-called founding fathers.
The judge had also been burned by insurrectionist Dominic Pezzola who cried and proclaimed his plan to forego any political actions forever as he pleaded for leniency. And he got it, too, as the judge gave him only 17 years. But once the judge left the courtroom Pezzola raised his fist and yelled “Trump Won!”
The judge seemed to admit he’d been made a fool of and that it would not happen again, before he sentenced Tarrio.
I am certain Tarrio was pissed at Joe Biggs’ antics and that gives me joy.
Enrique is now #1 and I hope he is happy being on top in the proud boy sentencing race.
Enrique Tarrio: 22 years
Ethan Nordean: 18 years
Zachary Rehl: 15 years
Joe Biggs: 17 years —
Dominic Pezzola: 10 years
And oathkeeper Stewart Rhodes: 18 years
Most of the nation is rooting for Enrique to lose the top spot to Donald Trump, though if that will happen it looks to still be months if not years away.
Like many Americans I am relaxed thinking how those thugs will be off the streets for decades.
This is also a good time to remind Black, Latino, Hispanic, and Asian folk that in *this country playing footsie with white supremacists, proud boys, oathkeepers, Qnon, 3% and klan folk won’t save you from the court system *they designed to punish you harsher than themselves.
Enrique Tarrio fake cried and offered a fake apology that meant nothing. His lame lawyer was wonderfully terrible and didn’t sway the judge enough even though the sentence was much less than the DOJ asked for — that also continued the trend of republican-appointed judges going relatively easy on the insurrectionists.
It is no secret that sentencing is harsh for Black people who commit crime. And we know that every district attorney is elected by running on one simple platform: Being tough on crime.
And we also know that district attorneys are voted in by majority white voters — from all political parties — to deliver on their tough on criminals promise because they believe it will mean harsh sentencing for Black people.
That is why it has been particularly jarring and frustrating to see the endless stream of easy sentencing for white insurrectionists who attacked and trashed the Capitol while trying to prevent the peaceful transfer of power — the most egregious crime against the state and its people one can commit.
The judge proclaimed to love and honor the constitution and ideals of the framers and founding fathers, and he showed that he does understand grace, redemption, and rehabilitation. But like judges all across the nation, he believes those lofty word as long as the defendant standing before him isn’t Black.
Tarrio ‘s sentence isn’t long enough but it is the longest of anyone yet sentenced.
Too bad, not sad.
You got what you deserved and what you earned, Enrique. You cried and talk about letting your parents, sister, and auntie down. And you whined about how you now realize the police on duty that day were not traitors but in fact heroes. And you even halfheartedly apologized to the citizens of Washington, D.C., for the vile words you spewed at and about them.
I am not a resident of Washington, D.C., nor am I an officer of the law, or elected member of congress. But what I am is a voter whose vote you tried to nullify.
My grandparents registered to vote in Texas by walking past armed white men. And they and my parents marched for the right to vote. They, like Black folk all over the nation have long suffered the indignities of waiting hours to vote, last minute polling location changes, poll taxes, threats, harassement, gerrymandering, fake ballots being sent to us, misleading voting instructions, and of course acts of violence that have happened in this nation since the end of the Civil War.
And here your stupid ass comes to join in with those who support those actions and who actively worked (and are working) to keep those actions alive wherever Black and Indigenous people vote.
So for my ancestors who fought and died for your right to protest, vote, and exercise your first amendment rights, I say with all my heart: fuck you and please have the absolute worst 22 year sentence you can.
Dear Dean 