By Megan SaylesAFRO Employees Writermsayles@afro.com
Vice President Kamala Harris formally licensed Donald Trump as the subsequent president of the USA on Jan. 6. Members of the U.S. Congress watched as the previous presidential candidate introduced 312 electoral votes for Trump and Vice President-Elect JD Vance and 226 electoral votes for herself and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
The affirmation comes 4 years after the violent assault on the U.S. Capitol, by which lots of of the president-elect’s supporters stormed the historic constructing in Washington, D.C. in protest of President Joe Biden’s 2020 win. Forward of the rebellion, Trump repeatedly made false, public claims about voter fraud and asserted that the election had been stolen. He refused to concede till Jan. 7, 2021 after greater than 140 cops had been injured within the assault and 5 individuals died.
Lawmakers, together with Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-30), issued statements reflecting on the rebellion and its danger to the nation’s democratic rules.
“4 years in the past right now, our nation confronted the biggest menace to our democracy and the peaceable switch of energy because the Civil Struggle,” mentioned Crockett. “This assault was premeditated and deliberate months upfront by violent militia members with shut associations with then-President Donald Trump himself.”
The consultant referred to a speech Trump gave hours earlier than his supporters invaded the Capitol because the U.S. Senate tried to certify the 2020 election outcomes. In his remarks, Trump mentioned, “in case you don’t combat like hell, you’re not going to have a rustic anymore.”
“And combat like hell they did,” mentioned Crockett. “In a interval of 5 hours, 5 individuals had been killed, 174 regulation enforcement officers had been assaulted, members of each events and the vp had been compelled to flee for his or her lives and the halls of the guts of American democracy had been desecrated, leading to $30 million in repairs and safety prices.”
Following the riot, a bipartisan choose committee was fashioned to analyze the Jan. 6 assault. The committee referred Trump for prison prosecution by the Justice Division (DOJ), recommending prices for obstruction of an official continuing, conspiracy to defraud the U.S., conspiracy to make false statements and inciting, helping or aiding an rebellion.
Although the DOJ pursued a prison case in opposition to the president-elect, the costs had been dropped in November 2024.
For the reason that assault, Trump has tried to rebrand what occurred on Jan. 6, 2021 as a “day of affection.” Crockett condemned him and members of the Republican social gathering who’ve minimized the violence and destruction of the day.
“My fellow Home Democrats, and I cannot go together with the GOP’s makes an attempt to rewrite historical past. January 6, 2021 was not a peaceable demonstration or a ‘regular vacationer go to,’ within the phrases of my colleague, Rep. Andrew Clyde. It was a lethal try and disrupt and destroy our democratic course of, violate the need of the voters, and steal the presidency,” mentioned Crockett.
She acknowledged the bravery and sacrifice of the Capitol Police who safeguarded the certification of the 2024 election.
“However, irrespective of who’s within the White Home, we is not going to permit the American individuals – and our personal colleagues – to overlook what our nation skilled 4 years in the past, or deny the menace that Donald Trump and his far-right militia allies pose to our democracy,” mentioned Crockett.
The Jan. 6 anniversary arrives as lawsuits and prison proceedings concerning the assault proceed. The Attorneys’ Committee for Civil Rights Below Legislation is searching for justice on behalf of eight U.S. Capitol Cops who had been traumatized or injured throughout the assault. The group filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in December 2021.
Damon T. Hewitt, president and government director of the Attorneys’ Committee for Civil Rights Below Legislation issued an announcement on the anniversary of the assault.
“January 6, 2021, is a date that can dwell in infamy. On that day, the norms and foundations of our democracy—the promise of free and honest elections, the safety of each poll solid, and the peaceable switch of energy—got here beneath violent assault,” mentioned Hewitt. “A mob provoked by disinformation and aided by extremist teams just like the Proud Boys sought to overturn the need of the individuals and silence the voices of tens of millions of voters, notably these from Black and Brown communities.”
The swimsuit alleges that the officers had been crushed, pepper sprayed and referred to as racial slurs throughout the riot. It claims these acts had been triggered by Trump and right-wing teams, just like the Proud Boys, which plotted to forestall the certification of the 2020 election.
“But, they’ve averted accountability,” mentioned Hewitt. “They have to be held accountable for our nation to maneuver ahead and in order that the violence we noticed then won’t ever occur once more.”
As Trump prepares to return to workplace on Jan. 20, he has already vowed to pardon everybody who participated within the violent assault. He’s additionally searching for presidential immunity from civil litigation.
“This somber anniversary reveals that democracy can’t defend itself,” mentioned Hewitt. “We should all step ahead and do our half. For our half, the Attorneys’ Committee will proceed to demand accountability till justice is served.”
On the fourth anniversary of the assault, members of the Congressional Black Caucus launched an announcement.
“At the moment, our ideas are with the households of those that misplaced their lives and people who nonetheless carry the bodily, psychological and emotional wounds of the assault on the U.S. Capitol. We’re reminded that democracy is fragile, and that we should proceed to push again in opposition to the continuing threats to our democratic course of,” mentioned Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), within the assertion. “Up to now, lots of of voter suppression payments – together with many focusing on Black and minority communities – have been launched in state legislatures all through the nation with the purpose of proscribing entry to the poll field, closing polling areas, curbing early voting and voting by mail, and imposing stricter voter ID necessities.”
“We can’t flip a blind eye to any effort to undermine our democracy whether or not it’s efforts to overturn our election on January 6, or efforts to disclaim Black voters honest and equal illustration on the poll field,” continued Clarke. “At the moment, and each day, the CBC will proceed to fulfil our constitutional obligation to guard and uphold our democracy and the values that make our nation robust.”
