Saturday marks the third anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. In the incident, thousands of protesters marched from a “Stop the Steal” rally in Washington, D.C., to the Capitol at the direction of former President Trump to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle responded in online posts Saturday to the attack and what has happened in the three years since.
President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris took time to reflect on the attack in nearly identical posts online, insisting that American democracy had indeed won that day.
“Three years ago, a mob fueled by lies stormed the U.S. Capitol.” Biden posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Our democracy was tested. But it lasted because We the People won.”
“It's up to us to prove that for all its imperfections, American democracy remains a beacon to the world and a promise to be kept,” he added.
Harris posted a similar message, condemning the riots and efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election that put both her and Biden in the White House.
“On January 6, we were reminded that we still have work to do to protect our democracy and fundamental freedoms.” she said.
Speaker Emeritus Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who wrote an op-ed about her experience on Friday, posted online calling on Americans to do their part to protect democracy.
“Three years ago, a violent mob stormed the Capitol to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power. It wasn't just an attack on Congress, it was an attack on our fundamental freedoms.” Pelosi wrote. “Today, we are all doing our part to protect American democracy, which Lincoln called “Earth's last best hope.''
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (New York) posted online And I said, “January 6th.”th It was very real. ”
“I was within 30 feet of the insurrectionists who breached the Capitol,” Schumer said. “They were not peaceful.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders (R-Vt.), an outspoken critic of President Trump, said the day was a reminder that “politics is more than a debate over ideas.”
“The question is whether we can maintain democracy against those who propagate authoritarianism.” He said. “We can and must build a vibrant democracy where people’s voices are heard and their needs are met.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York also posted about the riot. “All those responsible for the violent riots on January 6th must be held accountable. No one is above the law,” Jeffries said in a post on
As of Friday, the Justice Department said it had convicted about 1,000 people on charges ranging from felonies such as seditious conspiracy and assaulting a Capitol Police officer to misdemeanors such as trespassing. Prosecutors say nearly 80 people remain wanted and need to be determined for their roles in the attacks.
A number of other Democratic politicians also posted online to express their thoughts on the riot. House Democrats' explanation of X recalled attacks on “this solemn anniversary.”
“We thank the police officers who protected us, we remember those who lost their lives, and we recommit to defending our democracy.” The post said:
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Mississippi), who chaired the committee investigating the attack, said: issued a statement For the tireless efforts of many member states to “identify and defend against threats to American democracy that have disrupted the peaceful transfer of power.”
Mr Thompson said the country was still at risk three years later. He thanked law enforcement officers “for being on the front lines at a time when America's democracy was under threat.” He said he hopes this anniversary will serve as a call to action to protect democracy for generations to come.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), who also served on the committee, accused lawmakers of “continuing to deny what happened” that day.
“Our democracy remains fragile and we must constantly strive to protect it.” He said.
Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), also a member of the committee, said the anniversary is a “solemn reminder” that American democracy “cannot be taken for granted.” He said that there is.
“Today, we honor the police officers who lost their lives and reaffirm our commitment to the rule of law.” Aguilar said.
Former Rep. Elaine Luria (D-Va.), who served on the committee, said the mob was directed by Trump and “fueled by his lies about the election.”
“Then he did nothing for 187 minutes to stop it,” she said. “Mr. Trump must be held accountable.”
Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), a committee member who became an outspoken critic of Trump and his role that day, said: posted many times online He condemned the actions of the former president and his Republican colleagues that day and in the years that followed.
On the other side of the aisle, Republican lawmakers criticized Democrats for their treatment of convicts in the years that followed.
Posted by Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) A series of posts online On Saturday, he compared the riots to the damage caused by Black Lives Matter protests across the United States in 2020.
“Patriot pretrial J6 defendants are rotting in prison, many in solitary confinement, and Joe Biden is bragging about it!” Posted by Green. “Meanwhile, most of the BLM mobs who caused billions of dollars in damage and set our country on fire have never spent a day in prison.
“The media loves to promote the J6 events to demonize peaceful Trump supporters,” she said.
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) told her followers, “Never forget the way Joe Biden has treated and continues to treat political prisoners from that day forward.”
“Because of the events that have transpired since that day, our country can no longer claim the moral high ground when it comes to political prosecutions and political prisoners.” Posted by Boebert. “I will fight for justice to be restored to America and for these wrongs to be righted!”
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