Committee report focus is not on demonstrators – 5 essential reads on the symbols they carried on Jan. 6

As the final report emerges from the congressional committee investigating the insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, the focus is on the role of then-President Donald Trump and those close to him. That's crucial information, but it leaves out another important chapter of the story. 

There were thousands of people demonstrating on the streets of Washington, D.C., that day, whose actions are not recounted in detail in the congressional report. They carried a variety of political and ideological flags and signs. The Conversation asked scholars to explain what they saw – including ancient Norse images and more recent flags from U.S. history. 

Here are five articles from The Conversation's coverage, explaining what many of the symbols mean…

https://theconversation.com/committee-report-focus-is-not-on-demonstrators-5-essential-reads-on-the-symbols-they-carried-on-jan-6-196638

Capitol rioters' clothes reveal a deeper story about possible threats - Insider

Looking through hours of footage from the insurrection at the Capitol, we noticed dozens of symbols that promoted conspiracy theories, white supremacy, and a Trump-infused brand of Christianity. Far-right group QAnon carried their signs high in the air, as some members of the movement had openly called for violence leading up to this day. The Proud Boys, an organization that has been labelled as a hate group, wore matching armbands and shouted into megaphones.....

https://www.insider.com/capitol-rioters-clothes-revealed-deeper-story-about-possible-future-threats-2021-1 

Decoding the Far-Right Symbols at the Capitol Riot - The New York Times

... There were militia flags and banners of extremist groups, as well as absurd images of dinosaurs and comic book logos that belied the violence that was to unfold...

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/13/video/extremist-signs-symbols-capitol-riot.html