Jayapal Statement Recognizing January 6th
WASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) released the following statement recognizing four years since the deadly insurrection on January 6th, 2021:
“Today, Members of Congress return to the U.S. Capitol to do one of our most important constitutional duties — certify the results of the Presidential election and ensure a peaceful transfer of power. What we do today will be in stark contrast to what happened four years ago, when insurrectionists—fueled by sitting President Donald Trump — attacked the U.S. Capitol in the most violent attack since the War of 1812. That day, U.S. Capitol Police officers were killed, and hundreds — including over 140 law enforcement officers—were injured. Today, we remember their courage and bravery even as Republicans have refused to put up a Congressionally mandated plaque to honor those officers.
“I know that many Americans across the country are still processing how it is possible that a President, who resisted the peaceful transfer of power four years ago and is also the first ever convicted felon elected, could enter the Oval Office. While I intend to do everything possible to continue to protect our democracy and to stand up for vulnerable Americans who stand to lose Social Security and Medicare and struggling Americans who will see their grocery prices rise while billionaires get another Trump tax scam, I know that the survival of our democracy depends on our willingness to uphold the results of our elections, whether we like them or not.
“But as we certify the elections today, let us never forget how close we came four years ago to losing our democracy completely. As someone who was trapped in the Gallery that day, I remember vividly how close we came to not making it out alive. I will never forget the pounding on the doors, the shouting and screaming of both those trying to overrun our democracy and those putting their lives on the line to defend it. I will never forget that, despite the violence, we returned that night to do the very thing we were elected to do: to certify the election for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. I also will never forget the handful of brave Republicans who, in the weeks following, stood up to put country over party during Trump’s impeachment trial.
“If Donald Trump moves forward with pardoning the January 6 rioters, as he has pledged to do, he will once again be doing violence to our country and our democracy and encouraging it again in the future. Despite those or any other efforts to rewrite history, that day will never be forgotten for its horrific violence, for just how close we came to losing our democracy, and for the strength and bravery of so many who fought to make sure we respected the results of a fair and free election.
“That day showed me just how fragile our democracy is. We can never take this for granted and we must work to protect and strengthen our democracy every single day, against all threats to it. I pledge to do exactly that.”