sexta-feira, 8 de janeiro de 2021

Ashli Babbitt

Ashli Babbitt, who was killed storming the Capitol, had spent 14 years in the military. As a civilian, she found herself free to express her political views: Her social media feed was full of messages celebrating President Trump and conspiracy theories.

Woman Killed in Capitol Embraced Trump and QAnon

After 14 years in the military, Ashli Babbitt bought a pool supply company and delved into far-right politics.

By Ellen Barry, Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs and Dave Philipps

Published Jan. 7, 2021Updated Jan. 8, 2021, 9:45 a.m. ET

Read in English

Ashli Babbitt had been preparing for this day, the day when world events would turn her way. When a discouraged friend on Twitter asked last week, “When do we start winning?” Ms. Babbitt had an answer: “Jan 6, 2021.”

Her name will now be connected to that date, and to shaky footage showing a crowd of rioters smashing glass on the door leading to the Speaker’s Lobby of the Capitol.

At the front of that crowd is the small figure of Ms. Babbitt, wearing snow boots, jeans, and a Trump flag wrapped around her neck like a cape.

A day after Ms. Babbitt’s death, as part of a mob storming the Capitol amid counting of Electoral College votes, a portrait of her is taking shape.

Ms. Babbitt had left the Air Force after two wars and 14 years, settling near the working-class San Diego suburb where she was raised. Life after the military was not easy. After briefly working security at a nuclear power plant, she was struggling to keep a pool-supply company afloat.

As a civilian, she found herself newly free to express her political views. Her social media feed was a torrent of messages celebrating President Trump; QAnon conspiracy theories; and tirades against immigration, drugs and Democratic leaders in California.

“You guys refuse, refuse to choose America over your stupid political party, I am so tired of it,” she said in a video message posted on Twitter, addressing California politicians. “You can consider yourself put on notice. Me and the American people. I am so tired of it, I am woke, man, this is absolutely unbelievable.”