A PASTOR who has been leading his Washington DC congregation from Clydebank since April has spoken about the fragility of democracy in the wake of the city’s violent insurrection.

Pastor William Young, who was previously minister of Morison Memorial Church in Clydebank and Drumchapel’s Essenside United Reformed Church, told the Post of the “darkness” of the domestic terror attack on the American capitol - under the “orders” of their “muse”, President Donald Trump.

Since April, he has been pastor to Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ - but been unable to move there because of the pandemic.

He told the Post: “January 6 is the first day of Epiphany, when Christians celebrate the manifestation of the Light that we wait for in Advent.

“In America it began as a day of light as we woke to the results of the Georgia Senate race. By evening, light was yet again eclipsed by darkness, as a group of domestic terrorists obeyed the orders—not the actions—of their muse, and looted the seat of US government.

“The ramifications of this action are enormous, not merely because of the inauguration in a week or the message of vulnerability it sends to global terrorists.

“Universally, it is a reminder of the deep fragility of democracy in the 21st century. That should be a cause for worry as well as vigilance. The storming of US Congress by citizens is reminiscent of other insurrections in world history.”

Read more: ‘We can’t stop what we’re doing’: How Clydebank found a timely role with America’s Black community

He continued: “But this is a reminder that privilege is a problem in our time. Privileged people fear losing privilege more than anything and they do anything to keep it.

“And make no mistake, the insurrectionists are privileged people.

“If Black Lives Matter protesters had done this, there would be blood on the streets. ‘Blue lives’ didn’t even matter that day.

“Anticipating the far-right demonstrations, our church prayed for peace the Sunday before. Washingtonians are used to protests and violence on their doorstep. But for many this is the death knell for America’s moral authority.

“America’s greatest threat is not Black power, but White rage.

“However, light still overpowers the darkness. Democracy is fragile, but it remains the most effective force against barbarism that we will ever know.”