Even in the face of destruction and racist terror, a handful of Black people emerged as heroes among the brave Americans who stood up to the bigoted Capitol mob and defended democracy.

At a CNN town hall event Wednesday night, Donald Trump used a racist dog whistle to refer to Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd, the Black cop who shot Ashli Babbitt, as a "thug."

Micki Witthoeft, the mother of Ashli Babbitt -- who was fatally shot while rioting after illegally breaking into the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 -- called Lt. Michael Byrd, widely regarded as a hero, "reckless" and "careless" for shooting her. The irony.