The other was
armed with just their words.
Yet one of these groups walked around unhindered for some time; they took smiling selfies with statues and each other, they were told they were special and loved by their president.
The other was tear-gassed, pepper-sprayed and shot at with rubber bullets from a thick line of unbudging police in full riot gear. They were called thugs, terrorists and anarchists by their president.
One of these groups was made up of white people.
The other was not.
This week, the world watched as a mob of Trump supporters pushed past police and incited a riot at Capitol Hill.
The siege went on for hours; property was destroyed, offices looted and shaken lawmakers and aides were forced to flee the building, shielded by Capitol Police.
One woman was fatally shot. Three others died after suffering medical events. A police officer later died from his injuries. But by in large, six hours after the siege began, rioters were able to walk out the doors unharmed.
Imagine for a second, how different a scene it would have been had it been black protesters holding a government building captive?
The same black protesters who were manhandled, beaten and arrested for daring to speak out and stand up against the inequalities and injustices faced by the black community in America.
The severe police response to the Black Lives Matter marches in 2020 was in stark contrast to the underprepared Capitol Police during the assault.
And that fact did not go unnoticed.
Toni Sanders, a Black Lives Matter activist, told BuzzFeed News: "They have guns. They have attacked the police. They have attacked innocent people who are just in the area, and yet they have not been beaten and teargassed and had flash-bangs thrown at them the way we had all summer long. We didn't have any weapons. All we had were our voices saying 'Black lives matter'."
US President-elect Joe Biden also acknowledged the disparity, saying "we all know that's true and it's totally unacceptable".
So where does that leave us?
Well, if you were ever in doubt that white privilege exists, here is your proof.
If you were ever in doubt that race is a factor in everything, here is your proof.
If you were ever in doubt that racism and corruption is alive and well, here is your proof.
While much has been written about the riot highlighting the fragility of democracy, it has also served to highlight ongoing issues of inequality.
A group of peaceful protesters marched in the streets for equality.
A group of angry, violent protesters stormed Capitol Hill.
What if they had been black?
