On January 10, 1776, Thomas Paine anonymously published a pamphlet called “Common Sense.” Paine published anonymously because the idea of questioning the authority of the English King was considered treason. Paine famously described government, “. . . even in its best state, as a necessary evil, and in its worst state, an intolerable one.” Paine also warned that “the same tyranny which drove the first emigrants from home, pursues their descendants still.” We argue, this remains just as true today as it did in January 1776.
On January 4, 2021, Richard Barnett set out for Washington, D.C. to make his case for independence from tyranny because like many other Americans he believed the result of the November 2020 Presidential Election was an intolerable one. On January 6th Richard marched over to the Capitol building after President Trump’s speech ended, not because President Trump asked him to, but because Richard wanted to exercise his First Amendment right to petition his government for redress of grievance and have his voice heard.
Richard arrived at the Capitol Building after it had been breached during President Trump’s speech, and found himself in a second wave of protestors when he was swept inside the open doors. He admits that he ended up in Speaker Pelosi’s office. Even so, Richard maintains that his actions were not criminal, and certainly not warranting the decade long prison sentence being sought by the Department of Justice, but rather a constitutionally protected form of political protest.
Richard, like many other January Sixers was physically and psychologically tortured during his time in DC-GITMO. Richard was beaten, ridiculed, denied access to medicine, denied access to counsel, and kept in solitary confinement for weeks at a time. Richard’s lawyers secured his release after 108 days of hell in a gulag plagued with black mold and other unsanitary living conditions. But the Department of Justice did not stop there. Since arriving home, the DOJ has made it impossible for Richard to earn a living, as such, he cannot pay his domestic expenses or his legal bills.
Because of this, Richard is asking for the support of Patriots who love this country and want to help him in the biggest fight of his life. Patriots who are unafraid to criticize the double standard of prosecution currently taking place in the United States. Men and women who embrace the American values of love of God, country, freedom, family, individualism, privacy, and capitalism. Rights protected by the First and Second Amendments. The values that our brave soldiers have fought and given their lives to protect. The kind of America that stands up to the evils of communism and socialism, not bows down to it.
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God Save Richard Barnett, All January Sixers, and The United States of America!