By Megan Sayles
AFRO Staff Writer
[email protected]
Vice President Kamala Harris officially certified Donald Trump as the next president of the United States on Jan. 6. Members of the U.S. Congress watched as the former presidential candidate announced 312 electoral votes for Trump and Vice President-Elect JD Vance and 226 electoral votes for herself and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
The confirmation comes four years after the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol, in which hundreds of the president-elect’s supporters stormed the historic building in Washington, D.C. in protest of President Joe Biden’s 2020 win. Ahead of the insurrection, Trump repeatedly made false, public claims about voter fraud and asserted that the election had been stolen. He refused to concede until Jan. 7, 2021 after more than 140 police officers were injured in the attack and five people died.
Lawmakers, including Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-30), issued statements reflecting on the uprising and its risk to the country’s democratic principles.
“Four years ago today, our country faced the largest threat to our democracy and the peaceful transfer of power since the Civil War,” said Crockett. “This attack was premeditated and planned months in advance by violent militia members with close associations with then-President Donald Trump himself.”
The representative referred to a speech Trump gave hours before his supporters invaded the Capitol as the U.S. Senate attempted to certify the 2020 election results. In his remarks, Trump said, “if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.”
“And fight like hell they did,” said Crockett. “In a period of five hours, five people were killed, 174 law enforcement officers were assaulted, members of both parties and the vice president were forced to flee for their lives and the halls of the heart of American democracy were desecrated, resulting in $30 million in repairs and security costs.”
Following the riot, a bipartisan select committee was formed to investigate the Jan. 6 attack. The committee referred Trump for criminal prosecution by the Justice Department (DOJ), recommending charges for obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to defraud the U.S., conspiracy to make false statements and inciting, assisting or aiding an insurrection.
Though the DOJ pursued a criminal case against the president-elect, the charges were dropped in November 2024.
Since the attack, Trump has tried to rebrand what happened on Jan. 6, 2021 as a “day of love.” Crockett condemned him and members of the Republican party who have minimized the violence and destruction of the day.
“My fellow House Democrats, and I will not go along with the GOP’s attempts to rewrite history. January 6, 2021 was not a peaceful demonstration or a ‘normal tourist visit,’ in the words of my colleague, Rep. Andrew Clyde. It was a deadly attempt to disrupt and destroy our democratic process, violate the will of the voters, and steal the presidency,” said Crockett.
She recognized the bravery and sacrifice of the Capitol Police who safeguarded the certification of the 2024 election.
“But, no matter who is in the White House, we will not allow the American people – and our own colleagues – to forget what our country experienced four years ago, or deny the threat that Donald Trump and his far-right militia allies pose to our democracy,” said Crockett.
The Jan. 6 anniversary arrives as lawsuits and criminal proceedings regarding the attack continue. The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is seeking justice on behalf of eight U.S. Capitol Police officers who were traumatized or injured during the attack. The organization filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in December 2021.
Damon T. Hewitt, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law issued a statement on the anniversary of the attack.
“January 6, 2021, is a date that will live in infamy. On that day, the norms and foundations of our democracy—the promise of free and fair elections, the protection of every ballot cast, and the peaceful transfer of power—came under violent attack,” said Hewitt. “A mob provoked by disinformation and aided by extremist groups like the Proud Boys sought to overturn the will of the people and silence the voices of millions of voters, particularly those from Black and Brown communities.”
The suit alleges that the officers were beaten, pepper sprayed and called racial slurs during the riot. It claims these acts were triggered by Trump and right-wing groups, like the Proud Boys, which plotted to prevent the certification of the 2020 election.
“Yet, they have avoided responsibility,” said Hewitt. “They must be held accountable for our country to move forward and so that the violence we saw then will never happen again.”
As Trump prepares to return to office on Jan. 20, he has already vowed to pardon everyone who participated in the violent attack. He is also seeking presidential immunity from civil litigation.
“This somber anniversary shows that democracy cannot defend itself,” said Hewitt. “We must all step forward and do our part. For our part, the Lawyers’ Committee will continue to demand accountability until justice is served.”
On the fourth anniversary of the attack, members of the Congressional Black Caucus released a statement.
“Today, our thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives and those who still carry the physical, mental and emotional wounds of the attack on the U.S. Capitol. We are reminded that democracy is fragile, and that we must continue to push back against the ongoing threats to our democratic process,” said Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), in the statement. “To date, hundreds of voter suppression bills – including many targeting Black and minority communities – have been introduced in state legislatures throughout the country with the aim of restricting access to the ballot box, closing polling locations, curbing early voting and voting by mail, and imposing stricter voter ID requirements.”
“We cannot turn a blind eye to any effort to undermine our democracy whether it’s efforts to overturn our election on January 6, or efforts to deny Black voters fair and equal representation at the ballot box,” continued Clarke. “Today, and every day, the CBC will continue to fulfil our constitutional duty to protect and uphold our democracy and the values that make our country strong.”
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