Second Anniversary Of Capitol Insurrection
WASHINGTON — Today, we reflect on the second anniversary of the January 6th Capitol Riot, when the nation was forced to confront GOP-endorsed extremism and the resulting rise of political violence. Two years later, as the nation grapples with the aftermath of the incident, Common Defense, the nation’s largest grassroots veterans’ organization, urges elected leaders to condemn political violence and build a secure and peaceful democracy where all Americans are safe from political violence and white supremacy.
Common Defense Executive Director, Jose Vasquez released the following statement:
“Two years ago today, a mob of supporters of former President Donald Trump gathered at Capitol Hill and stormed the United States Capitol Building in an attempt to violently overturn the results of the 2020 Presidential Election. The attack on our democratic institutions was motivated by hatred, denialism, and a disdain for democracy.
“We have not forgotten the lives that were lost during the insurrection at the Capitol Building– nor the damage done to our political institutions. In order to prevent this type of political violence from taking place ever again it is the responsibility of our elected officials to condemn the dangerous rhetoric used by former President Trump and other Republicans. However, in the two years since the insurrection, the GOP has not only tried to prevent accountability for January 6th, but in fact elevated those who planned, organized, and participated in the insurrection.
“168 election deniers were elected to Congress or key state offices in 2022. Since 2016, reported threats of violence made against members of Congress have increased tenfold. Of the more than 400 political extremism-related murders committed in the past decade, and more than 75 percent of those were committed by white supremacists or anti-government, right-wing extremists.
“As veterans who risked our lives to defend democracy, it is disappointing to see elected officials fail to defend our democratic institutions after January 6th. Just like our representatives in government, us veterans swore an oath to protect our Constitution and our democracy. We call for elected officials to uphold that oath by joining us in our condemnation of election denial and political violence.”
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