I can't forgive the people who won't admit my partner, Brian Sicknick, was a hero

[DonViejo]

Opinion by Sandra Garza

Updated 12:33 PM ET, Wed June 23, 2021

Editor's Note: Sandra Garza is a licensed clinical social worker and was the long-time partner of Brian Sicknick, the Capitol Police Officer who protected the US Capitol from pro-Trump rioters during the Jan. 6 insurrection and later died. The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author. Read more opinion on CNN. Watch Garza in conversation with Anderson Cooper on AC360 Wednesday at 8 PM ET.

(CNN) - In late 2008, while on a popular dating site, I received a message in my inbox from a good-looking, dark-haired man with gorgeous blue eyes saying, "Hi, how are you?" I responded, and before I knew it, we were chatting regularly for weeks. He told me that he used to be in the Air National Guard, was originally from New Jersey, and was nearing the end of his training to be a US Capitol Police Officer. It was Brian D. Sicknick.

When we finally were ready to meet for our first date, he made an odd request. Meet for breakfast? I came to learn that breakfast was his favorite meal of the day, particularly blueberry pancakes. Brian was very quiet, shy almost, and had an innocence about him that was incredibly endearing. We bonded over our love of animals, our military experience, and our passion for helping others -- he as an officer, me as a clinical social worker.

Soon, we moved in together — for 11 years, through the good, the bad and the ugly, the belly laughs, birthdays, Thanksgivings, Christmases, road trips, vacations, heartbreaking losses and moves to new homes. Last July we took a break from our relationship to figure out our futures. He kept our dachshunds; I babysat them when he worked late. We remained incredibly close.

On the morning of January 6, 2021, Brian reminded me that I needed to stay overnight to be with the dachshunds because there were pro-Trump protests happening over the outcome of the election. He said he would not be coming home until late the following day.



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https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/23/opinions/brian-sicknick-partner-grief-garza/index.html

[Dawson Leery]

1. No hero.

She and Sicknick supported Trump, TWICE knowing what he said and did. They nearly brought this nation to ruin. Sicknick had an obligation to correct his misdeed, and he did. Sadly he paid for it with his life.

[Treefrog]

5. He had a right to support whom he wanted to support politically.

We can’t understand it, but god help us if we think those who support politicians we hate all deserve to die.

[Caliman73]

6. I don't see where the poster said or implied he deserved to die.

I see where the poster said that Sicknick was not a hero.

Sicknick was a police officer charged with defending the Capital and enforcing law there. You can certainly argue that he did his duty and maybe that makes him a hero. However, the context of the op ed seems to want to make it seem as if Sicknick was simply an American hero who was tried and true. He, like many others, got caught up in the events that the man he supported and voted for TWICE, created.

You are absolutely correct to say that he had a right to support whoever he wanted to. Where the right gets fuzzy is when people try to back away from that support after it turns out horribly wrong. Lots of German people supported Hitler, but when the Nuremburg trials started in earnest, all of those who hadn't fled, were suddenly "Just following orders".

His partner is feeling the grief of her loss. She is angry because Trump and the GOP do not seem to care. Like I said in my other response, why is it that it took this loss for her to understand that Trump and the GOP NEVER cared? We all seemed to understand it, some of us right at the beginning and others within the time between the election and Inauguration. Even those of us late to the party, understood it when he was ripping babies from parents to punish immigrants.

They voted for Trump even after COVID-19. People maybe don't remember but Trump was calling the election crooked and invalid IF Biden won, BEFORE the election. The seeds for an insurrection should Trump have lost, were planted WAY before January 6th and even before the election took place. Sicknick died defending the Capital from people on his side.

[Dawson Leery]

10. Re-read the post.

He has the right to support who he wants. We all do. At the same time, we must be held responsible for our votes.
I will maintain this: Brian Sicknick had an obligation to correct is misdeed. He did pay with his life and should be forgiven.

[flotsam]

9. I'll respectfully disagree

If you ask any Vietnam vet they would tell you they fought for their brothers in the next foxhole first and foremost and almost as an afterthought for their country. And each name inscribed on the wall forfeited decades of life-no matter what their political beliefs-and are heroes. Sicknick died for his brothers and sisters in that service-that's enough for me.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. This is an astonishing outpouring of grief from Brian Sicknick's partner.

Her writing brings to vivid life the terrible trauma she suffered and still suffers from. It is an important piece of writing, very important.

We need to confront those who would diminish in any way the terrible acts of Jan. 6th. And we need to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law, those who committed those acts, or aided and abetted them, in any way.

[Caliman73]

3. I agree, but we must also look at this critically.

Both Sicknick and Garza were strong supporters of Trump up until Sicknick was killed. I am sure I will be accused of cynicism, but I have to wonder what the opinions would be if Sicknick was not injured on January 6th. Something that appears to be endemic to Conservatives is the inability to experience the emotions of a situation unless they are personally affected.

This was a devastating loss to Garza and the Sicknick family, and I feel bad for their loss. I feel bad for the losses of all, including Ashley Babbitt, who did not have to die at that hand of police who were defending themselves and Congress people. I feel bad for members of Congress who are still dealing with the trauma that people were out there, really trying to kill them, and got close. I feel bad for all of the people who died needlessly during 2020 from a disease that was controllable because Trump and the GOP decided that trying to hide information rather than taking decisive action, would be better politically.

What concerns me is that it took the death of her partner to Finally realize that Trump and the GOP DO NOT CARE about the American people. They NEVER did. From the moment Trump came down that stupid gold plated escalator, with his purchased crowd. From the time when all of the GOP politicians who had mocked and said how ridiculous Trump was, fell into complete lock step behind him. Especially the craven Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham, and Marco Rubio. Even Mitt Romney who people say "has integrity" prostrated himself before Trump seeking a cabinet position.

It took a personal loss for Garza to determine that Trump and the GOP cared more about their own power, than what the American people need. I feel bad for the loss, but can't help also feeling upset at the fact that it took that loss to realize how bad things are because of Trump and the GOP.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. I was unaware that they were both Trump supporters. That's appalling but not surprising.

Many people supported Trump, not knowing how terrible he truly is. I never supported him, but I had no idea how corrupt he is and just how much damage he could do. Perhaps the same was true for Sicknick. I don't know.

[uponit7771]

7. So sad, its time for Americans to speak out against Trump violence

[bottomofthehill]

8. My opinion, and many may disagree but, Hero

He may have voted for Trump, supported Trump in the election but on 1/6, it did not matter who he voted for, he went out and did his job and died protecting Democracy. I don’t see how that is not a tragic and heroic death. He did not let his personal voting record get in the way of his duties or the oath he took.

Brian is a hero to me.