The Accolade has agreed to keep the guest columnist — a Republican student and supporter of President Donald Trump — anonymous for the writer’s safety.

The last time the U.S. Capitol Building was breached was during the War of 1812 by the British. The second time, however, was not by foreigners but by some of America’s own people.

On Wednesday, Jan. 6, supporters of President Donald Trump gathered in the nation’s capital to show their disapproval of the Electoral College certification of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. The protest was peaceful with protesters waving their flags and praying over their country.

Some even carried a giant cross and raised it in front of Capitol Hill, praying.

But the demonstrations became less peaceful when a select number of protesters decided to break into the Capitol building, compromise security and scale the historic site. Some burst through and started taking selfies and other images, including one broadcast on several media outlets of a man sitting in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office. 

Let me make one thing clear: Violence should never be the answer to frustration. This is not the American way. 

Because of the breach and infiltration of the Capitol building, Democrats and many in the media have used this — the Los Angeles Times, for example, called it a “siege” or “insurrection” in its headlines and stories — as a platform to turn America against Trump once again.

But this will not stop my support for the president.

During the disorder, Trump did the right thing in posting a video on his Twitter account telling his followers to go home. Those causing the ruckus in the Capitol building would definitely face charges for their vandalism of government property. 

Twitter then proceeded to shut down his account, citing risks of “violence” when Trump was trying to prevent any more from happening.

Trump has already confirmed in a video posted on Donald Trump Jr.’s account via Instagram that his main focus is on a peaceful transition of power to the next president giving people no reason to impeach him days out from the next inauguration.

Looking to the future of the Republican party, we have a lot of work ahead of us. This incident has divided our party and even turned some supporters against Trump. I can understand their frustration with the events that occurred and can sympathize with them, but we cannot let these few rioters define our Republican party nor blame it all on Trump. 

When times get rough, we have to adapt and change.

Many in the media are definitely not doing the Republican party any favors.

These uproars cannot be justified for one party and not the other. But many media outlets like CNN and MSNBC have become a biased resource and have twisted their words to favor the left side of the political spectrum. 

During the past summer, riots across the country took place in honor of the Black Lives Matter movement and against police brutality. These horrifying demonstrators in cities like Minneapolis, Seattle, Portland, Atlanta and New York were recorded on camera of looting and burning down small businesses that did nothing to provoke the deaths of African Americans. Injury and deaths ensued because of violent fights that broke out; government property and police vehicles were damaged by flames sparked by protesters.

In Kenosha, Wisc., on Aug. 25, 2020, a CNN correspondent was covering a live protest with this message at the bottom of the screen: “FIERY BUT MOSTLY PEACEFUL PROTESTS AFTER POLICE SHOOTING.” Behind the reporter, it was clear that cars were on fire in the background and major property damage was occurring after the police-involved shooting of Jacob Blake.

But when Republicans sustained a protest, CNN overdramatized its headlines, making these rioters sound atrocious.

Another exaggeration occurred on Thursday, Jan. 7. CNN’s headline for one of its segments was titled, “Chaos. Anarchy. Assault on Democracy,” when Trump supporters took to the Capitol building.

Those words just prove that while a Trump protest remained mostly peaceful before that one group decided to do some damage to Congress, an out-of-control, completely chaotic protest stemming from the shooting of an African American man ends up being portrayed as peaceful. 

Because the media are more liberal, they deceive society into believing that looting and demolishing cities to voice frustration is acceptable behavior. But a mainly tranquil protest consisting of pro-Trumpers is awful.

The media and their pundits who rail against the president will still not change my support for Trump, and what the media will not show you about Wednesday’s riots is how Trump supporters attempted to stop the invaders from breaking into the Capitol. On social media accounts such as Tik Tok, peaceful protesters published videos displaying how they were trying to prevent the break-in, but when they could not prevent it they responded with booing, praying and singing of the “Star-Spangled Banner.” 

They watched with terror in their eyes from the sidelines helpless, as they could not do anything to prevent the invaders from making this huge mistake they did not agree with.

While I condemn what some people from my party decided to do, we have to realize that this problem happens on both sides. Both political factions have made mistakes in choosing violent over peaceful protests these past months. But we cannot point fingers; we have to agree that we both were in the wrong and move on.

All who break the law should be prosecuted no matter what political side they are on. While I am all for peaceful protests, violent retaliation is never an option and will never benefit America’s society. But remember, we are all Americans.

“America is and must always be a nation of law and order,” Trump said in a video posted on Donald Trump Jr.’s Instagram account on Thursday, Jan. 7.

And if he decides to run for president again in 2024, the Donald will still get my vote.