Reflecting on a dark anniversary: The latest D.C. Memo
Tensions are running high in Washington ahead of Thursday's anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Asked to reflect on the attack a year later, members of the Illinois congressional delegation said the memories remain sharp.
"I was in the House Gallery during the attack," Rep. Robin Kelly, a Matteson Democrat, recalled. "I crawled on my hands and knees and hid behind chairs and railings praying for safety for my colleagues, staff and all who work in the Capitol complex. This attack was especially frightening as a Black woman, and I know that many of my colleagues and staff of color have felt a particularly heavy burden in the wake of the insurrection."
Calling from D.C. on Tuesday, Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Evanston remembered the same chaos, saying, "In retrospect, the moment that really stands out to me was that just minutes after all of the insurrection officially stopped, Nancy Pelosi said, ‘We are going to the floor of the House of Representatives to do the job that we're mandated to do. … And we are going to certify the legitimate winner of this election, Joe Biden.'"
She added: "We accomplished that on that same day, just literally minutes after the smoke was no longer rising—amazing. Looking back on that, that was such an important and significant thing to do."
Rep. Jesus "Chuy" Garcia of Chicago tied the events of a year ago to the need to take precautionary steps before the next election. "These extremists must be held accountable," he said, "but we must also strengthen our democracy by passing bills like the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to protect the right to vote and by eliminating racist procedures like the filibuster." He also noted that "state legislatures across the country continue to undermine democracy with gerrymandering and discriminatory voter ID laws. Congress must act now to ensure the people's voice is heard."
Rep. Sean Casten echoed that sentiment, saying, "The Jan. 6 attack that left multiple Americans dead and dozens wounded was not the only assault on our democracy—it started with a viral disinformation campaign to denigrate American democracy and overturn the results of an election during and after the 2020 campaign and continued with 34 attacks on voting rights enacted in 19 states in 2021 alone.
"If we just move on and ignore what caused this attack in the name of unity, the violence will only get worse," added the Downers Grove Democrat. "We have an obligation to hold those who sought to overthrow our democracy on Jan. 6 accountable, and we can't stop working to save our country until we've done so."
Sen. Tammy Duckworth said, "I spent my entire adult life defending our Constitution, but I never thought I'd need to defend it from people waving the same flag I wore on my uniform as they broke down the doors of our nation's Capitol." One year later, she says she believes it's more important than ever "to make it clear that in this country, the power of the people will always matter more than the people in power."
Sen. Dick Durbin planned to hold his statements for the actual anniversary on Thursday, but his staff drew attention to his remarks on the Senate floor the evening after the Jan. 6 attack had been repelled. Durbin cited how President Lincoln had overseen completion of the Capitol dome during the Civil War, and the building was and remains "a symbol to this country, a symbol of unity and of hope."
He added: "This is a special place. This is a sacred place. But this sacred place was desecrated by a mob today. . . .This temple to democracy was defiled by thugs, who roamed the halls.
"What brought this on?" Durbin said then. "Did this mob spring spontaneously from America? No. This mob was invited to come to Washington on this day by this president for one reason—because he knew the Electoral College vote was going to be counted this day. He wanted this mob to disrupt the constitutional process."
Of course, a year later, then-President Donald Trump has yet to face any consequences beyond his historic second impeachment, although the special House committee on Jan. 6 continues to pursue its investigation of the events leading up to the mob attack.
Kelly said, "I hope that this anniversary will serve as a reminder of the high stakes we face in holding those responsible for the insurrection accountable, in rejecting misinformation, and in pledging our unwavering support to protecting our democracy for the American people."
No Republican member of the Illinois delegation responded to requests for comment on the anniversary.
Source: Greg Hinz