Photo by Wes Orshoski

Neil Young has shared a statement regarding the Jan. 6 demonstration-turned-riot at the U.S. Capitol, saying, “I was shocked to see the Confederate flag being waved inside the chamber; the destruction and disrespect. But mostly I felt bad for the people. With Social media, issues are turned to psychological weapons and used to gather hatred in support of one side or the other. That is what Donald J. Trump has as his legacy.”

Young was born in Canada, and held a U.S. visa for decades before becoming a citizen in early 2020. At the time, Young reportedly took the plunge so he could vote against Donald Trump in the last presidential election.

Of course, through his career, the rock legend has been no stranger to politics, taking part in the anti-war movement of the ’60s and exploring themes environmentalism and corporate exploitation in his music and beyond.

Looking back on the deadly events of Jan. 6, Young called out the discrepancy in how law enforcement approached the mostly white crowd at the Capitol, as compared to their treatment of the Black Lives Matter movement this past summer.

“I was devastated to see the double standard. The way people were treated in the BLM demonstrations recently, compared to the other day. There is no place here for White Supremacy. People need each other to be truly free. Hatred will never find Freedom,” Young writes. “I learned that a some of the people storming the Capitol were police themselves, and gained peaceful entry by showing their badges.”

Young concludes by reflecting on America’s ongoing, poisonous culture of alternative information, especially when it comes to social media.

“I still have my strong beliefs. That has not changed. But now I feel empathy for the people who have been so manipulated and had their beliefs used as political weapons,” he says. “I may be among them. I wish internet news was two-sided. Both sides represented on the same programs. Social media, at the hands of powerful people – influencers, amplifying lies and untruths, is crippling our belief system, turning us against one another. We are not enemies. We must find a way home.

Read Young’s full statement at NeilYoungArchives.com or below:

Sadness and compassion hit me last night as I watched fellow Americans telling their stories.

A young lady in tears spoke of being maced in the Capital. She was crying because she had been attacked and all she was doing was trying to have her voice heard in this Revolution. She was one of thousands who have been carrying the feeling of being persecuted for their beliefs, their feeling that American power just didn’t care.

This, to me is beyond my own feelings that our president has betrayed the people, exaggerated and amplified the truth to foment hatred. Resentment of the Democratic party among the insurrectionists at the Capitol was rampant. We don’t need this hate. We need discussion and solutions. Respect for one another’s beliefs. Not hatred.

I was devastated to see the double standard. The way people were treated in the BLM demonstrations recently, compared to the other day. There is no place here for White Supremacy. People need each other to be truly free. Hatred will never find Freedom.

I learned that a some of the people storming the Capitol were police themselves, and gained peaceful entry by showing their badges. I was shocked to see the Confederate flag being waved inside the chamber; the destruction and disrespect. But mostly I felt bad for the people. With Social media, issues are turned to psychological weapons and used to gather hatred in support of one side or the other. That is what Donald J. Trump has as his legacy.

I still have my strong beliefs. That has not changed. But now I feel empathy for the people who have been so manipulated and had their beliefs used as political weapons. I may be among them. I wish internet news was two-sided. Both sides represented on the same programs. Social media, at the hands of powerful people – influencers, amplifying lies and untruths, is crippling our belief system, turning us against one another.

We are not enemies. We must find a way home.