Rev. Dr. Stephanie Rutt is founding minister of the Tree of Life Interfaith Temple in Amherst. She lives in Nashua.

It was like we were there that afternoon of January 6, 2021, as we watched in disbelief the violence erupting at our nation’s Capital. We kept checking the news across various outlets to make sure that what we were seeing was really happening. And, sadly, we were confronted again and again by the same violent images.

In the days that followed, many lawmakers on both sides of the aisle would forcibly, and rightfully, condemn the violence of the insurrection. But soon, the tide recalibrated as allegiance to our flag and republic went silent, drowned out by growing vocal allegiance to President Donald Trump instead. Memories began to morph as Republican lawmakers tried to convince us we hadn’t seen what we’d seen. Desperate to remain in good stead and curry favor with their emerging autocratic leader, their spines went soft. Most troubling, their ability to stand for the day’s true heroes, the Capitol Police officers, waned.

Today, this morphing has culminated in a full reversal of the facts of what actually happened on Jan. 6. Now, we’re told not only that we did not see what we saw but that, in reality, just the opposite happened. By continuing to describe the insurrectionists as “hostages,” Trump and his top guard have been reprogramming us to see what they want us to see: that the violent mob that attacked the Capitol was a swarm of true, unarmed patriots.

This, of course, was predictable and unsurprising. After all, the so-called hostages did their due diligence to show clear allegiance to Trump before they tried to obstruct the peaceful transition of power. And we, having been duly programmed, were primed to at least consider that it was really the rioters who were the true victims of the day. In this way, Trump could pardon them all with little fear of political backlash.

“I pledge allegiance to President Trump, and to the Republic, which he has formed . . .”

It would have worked if we hadn’t seen with our own eyes what we saw — but we did. We did, in fact, see many of the rioters come armed with a variety of weapons: stun guns, pepper spray, baseball bats and even flagpoles wielded as clubs. We saw their violent attacks on police officers who were doing their sworn duty that day. More than 140 officers were injured, some seriously. Others would die in the days and weeks following the insurrection, including officer Brian Sicknick, a veteran of the Iraq War. He died the next day from wounds caused by a fire extinguisher blow to the head. We saw the lynching noose and heard the cries to “hang Mike Pence.” And we watched, horrified, as the Confederate Flag was proudly carried through the Capital.

Those of us who witnessed the events of Jan. 6th must not remain silent, we must not imprint like ducklings onto Trump’s self-serving propaganda. We must stand with the National Association of Police Officers, the International Association of Chiefs of Police and many fellow U.S. citizens, Republican and Democrat, who’ve condemned Trump’s decision to pardon those involved in the insurrection.

We must not cower and avoid dialogue, just as Trump’s top guard is doing. Their behavior should show us all that they’re unwilling to engage in any discussion that may displease or threaten their leader. They’re clearly fearful, and they should be. After all, autocrats tend to get even when they believe they’ve been touched by the providential hand of God. And, now, Trump has a Supreme Court willing to shelter and protect all his actions as president.

“I pledge allegiance to President Trump, and to the Republic, which he has formed, one nation, duly governed by him, God’s chosen servant . . .”

Sadly, Trump told us who he was in 2016 when he said “I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose any voters.” At the time, most of us dismissed it as simply a gross display of chest-thumping. Today, we know he was absolutely right. Trump could stand out in front of the Capitol building and kill someone while many watched. By the evening news, conservative channels would be assuring viewers that we hadn’t really seen what we’d seen, that what we’d really witnessed was a most courageous and patriotic act carried out by our illustrious, divinely-appointed leader.

We would all be encouraged to pray for him, placing our hands over our hearts as we remembered our Pledge of Allegiance: “We pledge allegiance to President Trump, and to the Republic, which he has formed, one nation, duly governed by him, God’s chosen servant, to offer liberty and justice as decreed.”

To all those who treasure democracy, let’s not falter at this critical moment! Let’s fight for the country our forefathers dared to envision, now on life support, so our children and grandchildren might one day still be able to stand and pledge allegiance to the flag and to our great republic for which it stands.