Think Positive Cyber

On January 6, 2021, we watched in horror as rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol. They shoved, beat, and overran law enforcement, all in an attempt to overturn a lawful election. Many Americans rightly condemned this as an attack on democracy.

But this week, we saw something disturbingly similar: Senator Alex Padilla, a sitting U.S. Senator, was physically shoved in a political confrontation. Though different in scale, the intent was the same—gain power or attention through force. We cannot allow this behavior to become normalized, no matter the party or cause. Violence and intimidation have no place in civil discourse.

I’m considering attending the protest on June 14 not to support division, but to stand against the culture of shoving others out of the way—literally and metaphorically. My poster will read: “Democracy doesn’t shove its way to power.” It’s a message I hope resonates beyond just headlines.

If you see me holding that sign and want to know what I mean, or if you’re just curious, please visit https://j03.page/2025/06/12/Democracy-Under-Attack for context. We must learn from January 6 and from every moment where decency is discarded. The health of our democracy depends on how we treat one another—even, and especially, when we disagree.