On January 6, 2021, the United States Capitol was shaken by an unprecedented act of violence. Among the crowd that stormed the seat of the legislative power was Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, a former Capitol Police officer and United States Army veteran, whose bravery and sacrifice that day became part of history.
In an emotional interview with El Sol Latino Newspaper, Sergeant Gonell shared details of his life, his experiences as a Capitol Police officer, and the challenges he faced on that fateful January 6, 2021.
In this account, Gonell describes how he and other officers confronted the mob of former President Donald Trump’s supporters, who believed in false claims of electoral fraud. Despite risking their lives, Gonell faced physical and psychological challenges during and after the attack. His testimony reveals the lack of support from some Republicans, including former President Trump, towards the officers who defended the Capitol. Gonell warns the Latino community about the discriminatory and dangerous policies promoted by certain political leaders and calls for reflection on blindly supporting those who endanger democratic values and the rights of immigrants.
“The aftermath of the attack, the lack of support from many Republicans, who fill their mouths saying they support the police, order, and law, or laws and rules. These are things I didn’t expect, that they would turn their backs on me. Many of them only support the police during campaigns or publicly for a photo”
Born in the Dominican Republic, Aquilino Gonell arrived in the United States at the age of 12, settling in Brooklyn, New York. His military service began at the age of 21, shortly after the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Deployed to Iraq in 2003, Gonell demonstrated his bravery and leadership, rising to the rank of sergeant before joining the Capitol Police in 2005.
During his time at the Capitol, Gonell had the honor of meeting influential figures such as Pope Francis and Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor, among others. However, none of those experiences could have prepared him for the chaos and violence he would face on January 6, 2021.
Gonell recounts how he arrived at work that day at 6 a.m. and did not return home until 4 a.m. the following day. Amidst the mob’s attack, Sergeant Gonell and his colleagues bravely fought to protect the Capitol, facing the anger and violence of the assailants.
The interview delves into the physical and psychological challenges Gonell has faced since that day. He suffered multiple injuries during the attack, including bone fractures, severe bruises, and other wounds in different parts of his body, which left a lasting impact on his physical and mental health.
“Look, as a Hispanic. One of the things I think many Hispanics have done, I don’t know if it’s that they erase cassettes, as we say in certain parts of the Caribbean and Central America. They erase memories of how difficult or discriminatory the policies were that the former president put in place or his administration supported when they were in power”
Furthermore, it highlights the lack of support he has felt from certain political sectors, which have downplayed the attack and questioned the integrity of the officers who defended the Capitol.
Sergeant Gonell also took the opportunity to address the Latino community, reminding them of the discriminatory policies of the previous administration and warning about the danger of supporting those who threaten democracy and the fundamental values of the country.
His testimony is a powerful reminder of the bravery and sacrifice of those who defend democracy, as well as a wake-up call for the Latino community to remain vigilant and committed to defending the rights and freedoms of all Americans.
By: Martin Alfaro
Noticias Newswire
