Rep. Takano Statement on the One-Year Anniversary of the January 6 Insurrection
Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released this statement on the one-year anniversary of the insurrection at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.
“It’s been said many times, but January 6, 2021, was truly one of the darkest days in our nation’s history.
“As Congress was carrying out its Constitutional duty of certifying President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ historic victory, violent insurgents provoked by then-President Donald Trump and members of the Republican Party who believed in the big lie, stormed the U.S. Capitol with the intent of preventing the certification and causing terror.
“As I reflect on that horrific day and all the days that led up to it, I am reminded of the fragility of our democracy and the divisions that plague our country – it keeps me up at night. I am troubled at how divided we are, frustrated at the siloed news information that heavily contributes to our divisiveness, and furious at my Republican counterparts who consistently fail to condemn the actions of white nationalists and far-right extremists, and who have been craven in their failure to denounce the lies they perpetuate. One year later, this continues to be a grave situation.
“I also think about the staffers, police officers, custodians, and so many others who were present that day to do their job and serve our country honorably. They had to endure a pain of their own, and their dedication and sacrifice cannot be lost on us.
“It was Abraham Lincoln who said that America is ‘the last best hope of earth,’ and it is. I will always believe in America, and I will always believe America is worth fighting for, but we must have the courage and the persistence to fight for it, for the greatest challenge to our country is ourselves. Let us remember that we are one nation with one destiny. We will prevail.”
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