On This Day in History

Five Years After Jan. 6, A Test of Democracy

Clay Cane
January 6, 2026

This image U.S. Capitol Police security video, annotated by the source, was contained in the statement of facts presented by the Justice Department in support of the criminal complaint, shows Jennifer Leigh Ryan inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. In a letter to the court Ryan wrote, "While I feel badly about unlawfully entering into the Capitol on January 6th, not everything I did that day was bad. Some actions I took that day were good. I came to DC to protest the election results. I wanted my voice to be heard. My only weapon was my voice and my cell phone. It is my belief that America is presently in an 'Information War.' This so-called 'war' that I spoke of, using my first amendment rights, is a war that is not fought with weapons, but with words, ideas, constructs and opinions." Ryan received 60 days in jail after posting online that "I have blonde hair white skin a great job a great future and I'm not going to jail." (Justice Department via AP)

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WASHINGTON (AURN News) — Five years ago today, on January 6, 2021, the United States witnessed an unprecedented assault on its own democracy.

A violent mob, fueled by lies about a stolen election and incited by the sitting president, stormed the U.S. Capitol in an effort to overturn the will of the voters. They attacked police officers, ransacked offices, and halted the certification of a free and fair election.

This was not a protest. It was an insurrection — an open attempt to cling to power through intimidation and force. The consequences were deadly, traumatic, and enduring, exposing how fragile democratic norms can be when leaders abandon truth and accountability.

Hundreds were convicted for their crimes, only to see many later pardoned by Donald Trump — proof that remembering January 6 is not optional, but a civic responsibility.

Click play to listen to the AURN News report from Clay Cane. Follow @claycane & @aurnonline for more.

Clay Cane is an award-winning journalist, writer, radio host, and political commentator. A graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in African-American Studies, his work on race, culture, and politics have appeared in national publications, including the Washington Post, CNN, and The Grio. Clay is a regular political commentator on MSNBC. Twitter: @claycane