The black American police officer of the Capitol said on January 6: ‘They showed that they hate us and our skin color’

Flags, signs and symbols of racist, white supremacist and extremist groups were displayed along with Trump 2020 banners and American flags during the January 6 riot at the US Capitol. Black officers played an important role in defending lawmakers during the attack.

The attack, in which five people were killed and more than 100 police officers were injured, prompted black police officers who defended the Capitol on that day to recount their experience, Dunn said. While white police officers were also verbally and physically attacked by the insurgents, Dunn notes that he and his fellow black officers had to endure racist barbs – which left some in tears.

‘Once I had time to sit down and put it all together, it was just so overwhelming: that we give so much here and risk our lives to protect and preserve democracy, and we are called racial rights, traitors. , and any fair weapon that these people could use because they were upset about something, ‘he said.

“And you know why I think it’s a little harder for me now, because when I did my first interview, I did not know what pain many other colleagues were in. They shared it with me.”

Dunn on Wednesday rebuffed allegations that he was “playing the ‘race card’ or had a political agenda by discussing the racist elements of the attack.

“I did not wake up that morning and want to be called a *****, simple and straightforward,” he told Lemon. “I did not ask to be called that, and therefore I did not bring race into it. I just wanted to do my job.”

He continued, “So I wanted to talk to my colleagues and some of my closest friends and say: this is a moment and we need to grow out of this as a country, as a people, as a race, as a profession. There are so many, so many learning moments here and I do not want them to get away. ‘