Whose actions were worse: John Brown or the January 6 insurrectionists?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

The vast majority of Republicans would say John Brown. A lot call him a terrorist even today but refuse to say that about the January 6 defendants.

[Progressive Pessimist]

Brown led to more bloodshed, but his motives were sympathetic enough, if a little extreme.

The insurrection may not have caused as much carnage, but there is and was zero justification for it. And it was still violent in its own right.

[HisGrace]

If we're going to stick to actions I don't see how you can not say Brown. They both had the goal of overthrowing the US government and Brown's attempt was a far more credible threat and more violent. The argument for Brown would be that his motivation was better (antislavery vs Trump cultism) but what you're thinking in your head while something happens doesn't have a whole lot to do with the merits of the action.

[GoTfan]

John Brown is a hero.

[Ancestral Republican]

John Brown should be on currency and monuments.

Ashli Babbit was an embarrassment. She wasn't even a conservative. She was a liberal Democrat prior to 2016 when she became steadfastly devoted personally to Trump and to online Q communities. She did what she did because she was a brainwashed cult member in every sense of the word.

[VBM]

John Brown is one of the greatest heroes in American history

[Fuzzy Bear]

In terms of actual actions, it was John Brown's, period.  People may consider it a justified action, but in terms of an "illegal insurrection", it was (A) truly armed, and (B) far worse.  He led an actual military action.

I do not consider J6 an insurrection, and it's ridiculous to say so.  John Brown is the only insurrectionist in this discussion.  The question is whether or not you believe John Brown's actions to be justified.  I certainly find John Brown's cause more morally urgent.  Then, again, I could say the same for Nat Turner as well.

[quesaisje]

I cannot remember a night so dark as to have hindered the coming day: nor a storm so furious or dreadful as to prevent the return of warm sunshine and a cloudless sky. But beloved ones do remember that this is not your rest; that in this world you have no abiding place or continuing city. To God and his infinite mercy I always commend you.

Nothing will stop us....they can try and try and try but the storm is here and it descending upon DC in less than 24 hours....dark to light!

[Ancestral Republican]

I cannot remember a night so dark as to have hindered the coming day: nor a storm so furious or dreadful as to prevent the return of warm sunshine and a cloudless sky. But beloved ones do remember that this is not your rest; that in this world you have no abiding place or continuing city. To God and his infinite mercy I always commend you.

Wonderful. I can almost hear this in Arthur Miller's voice.

[Ancestral Republican]

"His zeal in the cause of freedom was infinitely superior to mine. Mine was a taper light, his was the burning sun. Mine was bounded by time, his stretched away to the silent shores of eternity. I could speak for the slave. John Brown could fight for the slave. I could live for the slave. John Brown could die for the slave." - Frederick Douglass