We all watched in horror the scenes of a mob attacking the Capitol but some viewers saw something you and I most likely did not — their own family and friends.
Helena Duke, 18, shamed her Trump-supporting mother in a now viral tweet when Therese Duke was punched in the face. Duke re-tweeted video of her mother’s encounter asking,
“…remember the time you told me I shouldn’t go to BLM protests bc they could get violent… this you?”
Helena Duke told NBC News,
“I definitely feel like they should be held accountable for their actions,” “This is horrific. It was really disgusting.
But seen as she is in this video at a violent event, inciting violence and then getting injured. It was just, it was so hypocritical of her.”
Michele Galietta, a psychology professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in NYC said,
“There are plenty people, I don’t think it was so hard to report someone…
Does that mean you enjoy it? No. I think it’s regrettable and I think most people would be upset they had to do it, but felt it was absolutely the right thing to do.”
Former FBI agent Clint Van Zandt said family members are often left with no choice but to call authorities,
“The Capitol was obviously bad. But if they’re posting pictures, if they’re taking bows for committing acts like this, then they’re capable of doing much worse…
“(Family members are thinking) ‘I’ve reached the limits of trying to help this person, I am so concerned about their behavior that if they won’t do anything to help themselves, then I have an obligation to try to find ways to help them (and call authorities).’ “
According to NBC News,
• Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Larry Brock was arrested after his former wife of 18 years contacted the FBI National Threat Operations Center on Jan. 8 saying she recognized him in footage.
• Accused rioter Guy Reffitt, an apparent member of a Texas militia group, even threatened his adult children if they “crossed the line and reported” dad to authorities, according a criminal complaint. [They did anyway.]
• Riley June Williams was charged with disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds with intent to disturb a session of Congress, among other charges, before a former boyfriend called authorities. William’s ex told an FBI agent that she “intended to send the computer device to a friend in Russia, who then planned to sell the device to SVR, Russia’s foreign intelligence service,” according to a criminal complaint.
Elizabeth Jeglic, another psychology professor at John Jay College.
“It’s this mob mentality and cult-like feeling to it, so there’s a real concern of where we’re headed and seeing a loved one being part of it.
“This is not Uncle Bob or Aunt Jane anymore. This is a mob of people attacking our nation, our freedom our values and that is not what your family values are about. When you see that, it can be very devastating.
It’s like a betrayal of your family and you want to keep your family values whole.”
for those that don’t believe it’s my mother… pic.twitter.com/jbSQysEZZ0
— Helena Duke (@duke_helena) January 7, 2021
(Photos, screen grabs; via NBC News)
