Remembering January 6, 2021

This week marked the five-year anniversary of the January 6th insurrection at the Capitol. That day, more than 100 U.S. Capitol Police officers were injured while defending our democratic institutions. In the days and months that followed, some officers lost their lives as a result of the trauma inflicted by the attack. The physical and emotional toll of that violence continues to be felt by law enforcement and their families. Their bravery and sacrifice remind us that democracy is not self-executing. It must be protected by people willing to stand up for the rule of law, even in the face of danger. In the years since January 6th, many of those responsible for this violence were convicted in courts of law. Their subsequent pardons by President Trump do not reflect true accountability, nor do they erase the harm done to our institutions, to law enforcement, or to the American people. January 6th was a dark chapter in our nation’s history and a stark warning. We cannot take our democratic norms for granted. It is incumbent upon elected leaders at every level to reject political violence, uphold the Constitution, and tell the truth, especially when it is difficult. As we reflect five years later, we must recommit ourselves to ensuring that an attack like this never happens again. Protecting our democracy requires vigilance, accountability, and a shared commitment to the principles that unite us as Americans.