If there were people who organized a violent movement to overthrow the government, they should be prosecuted. Just like organizers who organized the burning of police stations should be investigated and prosecuted. However, I don't think we should prosecute people for having attended an event that got co-opted and where they had no intent on participating in an insurrection or burning police stations.

What if the FBI had a large part in organizing such a movement? Should they be prosecuted too?

You know, the FBI has a long history of provocation. Yes, they should be prosecuted. Often times they enlist people who are very malleable and little education or have mental issues. I think it's a shame this happens and I wish we had an administration with the guts to put an end to this kind of entrapment.

> I don't think we should prosecute people for having attended an event that got co-opted and where they had no intent on participating in an insurrection or burning police stations

Totally agreed. Notably, nobody has suggested this. And nobody has, at least so far, been prosecuted for being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

"wrong place" meaning "inside the capitol at all" but certainly non-violent: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/crime/2021/06/23/capitol...

“Wrong place” in my comment meant you were at the rally and went along with it. At the point you’re storming a federal building, you should know you’re breaking all manner of laws.

How can you storm a building when the police are holding the door open for you and ushering you in?

Like so:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukU_aTzmF3M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1pIkbPvI8s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2npCYNnV18

And you would use the actions of a few agents provocateurs to smear the rest of the peaceful protestors who were let in by police?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiF4EIReuY4

Your implication that they were "agents provocateurs to smear the rest of the peaceful protestors" is lacking evidence, where there is plenty of evidence, both in testimony and captured communications from various groups of protestors intent on committing violence and mayhem, to the contrary.

At best, those "peaceful" protestors (who somehow in their naive purity managed not to be able to read the vibe of a crowd that erected a noose and gallows outside the White House, or notice the rioting, broken doors and tear gas) are still at least guilty of trespassing, and some of vandalism.

Trespassing charges would be thrown out immediately if they were ever presented to a jury. The police exercised apparent authority when they ushered the crowd in, giving them permission and the right to enter.

Vandalism would only apply to those who stole or defaced something, certainly not the majority.

And neither of these charges justifies holding a political prisoner for 6+ months without trial, as the US government has done.

>Trespassing charges would be thrown out immediately if they were ever presented to a jury. The police exercised apparent authority when they ushered the crowd in, giving them permission and the right to enter.

I'll let the Justice Department know they can drop all charges because slumdev from the internet has rendered their verdict.

>Vandalism would only apply to those who stole or defaced something, certainly not the majority.

The majority didn't enter the Capitol, and the majority haven't been charged with anything. If your assertion is that people are being arrested and charged with simply being there the actual criminal charges levied prove otherwise[0,1]. People who have been accused of committing actual crimes are being charged for those crimes.

>And neither of these charges justifies holding a political prisoner for 6+ months without trial, as the US government has done.

They aren't political prisoners. They aren't being persecuted for their political beliefs. Most people charged are out on bail, and the ones who aren't are the ones charged with serious crimes.

[0]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_charges_brought_in_th...

[1]https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/six-months-january-6th-attac...

It's similar to college rape accusations.

If the accusation is true, then it's a crime and the punishment should be much more severe. If the accusation is false, then it's a non-issue (and clearly not a crime), and there should be no punishment.

Big tech and universities do not have the skills, experience, resources or obligation to resolve the question of guilt clearly and fairly. Let's leave that to the courts.

That’d be easier to say if the track record on dealing with the police with rape wasn’t so awful.

So your solution is to set up another institution with an awful track record?

Sites were being deplatformed before the "violent insurrection" though.