Friend, yesterday our democracy held firm in the face of an utterly appalling attack.
Two months ago, a record number of Americans overcame barriers to voting -- including a deadly pandemic -- and chose a new President. And yesterday, I watched in horror as far-right insurrectionists stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to drown out all of our voices.
Today, I am thankful that these attempts to violently overthrow a democratic election were not successful. The U.S Congress has certified the Electoral College total, and President-elect Joe Biden will become President effective at noon on January 20.
But make no mistake: President Trump incited this violence. He must be held accountable and stripped of power now by any legal means. If you agree, please join me >>
This is a wake-up call -- or a reminder -- for every American about the danger we’ve been living with. The time for politicians to go along with Trump’s anti-democracy rampage for their own self-advancement -- and for some in the media to uplift falsehoods about the election’s outcome or make false equivalences between Trump’s actions and that of his opponents -- is over.
After all, you and I both know Trump's behavior in office has fundamentally undermined our democratic norms, our values, and the rule of law. And, rebuilding those vital institutions starts with accountability.
We just saw Trump carry out the implicit threat that he’s made for his entire political career: refusing to accept the results of an election that rejects him. He repeatedly refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power -- and when asked on the debate stage to tell the white supremacist Proud Boys to “stand down,” he instead urged them to “stand back and stand by.” [1]
Now, his most extreme supporters have attempted to violently subvert the will of the people in a fair, legal, and certified election.
And, they were able to violently storm and vandalize the Capitol with few arrests -- in the same city where police violently attacked peaceful Black Lives Matter activists with tear gas and rubber bullets. [2] The police must answer for this racist double standard and their passive response to violent white nationalists -- and a full investigation of their conduct must take place.
Trump’s many enablers in elected office also bear serious responsibility for yesterday’s tragedy. History will watch and judge the legislators and state attorneys general who planned to help him overturn the election -- particularly the 138 Republicans in the House and 7 in the Senate who voted with Trump even after yesterday's violence. [3] [4]
We won’t be intimidated. It’s time to draw a line in the sand. I won’t sit by in silence while these aspiring authoritarians try to destroy our democracy -- and I hope you won’t either. Can I count on you?
Common Cause is calling for Trump’s immediate impeachment for seditious conspiracy to overthrow the U.S. government, and his Cabinet must invoke the 25th Amendment to remove him from office. He must be removed by any legal means.
Furthermore, the Members of Congress who joined Trump’s call have violated their sacred oath to the Constitution -- which Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) has called on the Ethics Committee to investigate, potentially leading to their expulsion from Congress. [5] And, there must be accountability for the people who violently stormed the Capitol yesterday -- as well as a full investigation into the Capitol Police’s conduct in response.
Americans have a right to peacefully protest, but there’s no place for violent insurrection in our democracy -- especially in an attempt to overrule the will of the voters and overturn a free, fair, and democratic election.
But even as a far-right mob stormed the Capitol -- Trump posted messages of support on Twitter, repeated his baseless lies about the integrity of our election, and menacingly urged all of us to “Remember this day forever!” [6] -- posts that our Stop Disinformation program invoked as we successfully petitioned Twitter to suspend his account.
Trump and his enablers have exploited social media platforms to amplify disinformation and incite violence, sowing seeds that could lead to the destruction of our democracy. For the sake of future generations, we absolutely cannot let them succeed.
We need to act before it’s too late. Can you join me in demanding that Trump and everyone who has helped him subvert our democracy are held accountable?
Our democracy is worth defending -- and it requires the continued efforts of each and every one of us to maintain it for the next generation.
Friend, never am I more reminded of that painful reality than in times like these.
The dangerous forces responsible for yesterday’s events will remain long after Trump leaves office. Taking them on will require our continued, concerted action -- and I have never been more resolute that we must take on this challenge together.
I am glad to know I can count you on our side.
In common cause,
Karen Hobert Flynn, President
and the team at Common Cause
[1] https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-race-and-ethnicity-donald-trump-chris-wallace-0b32339da25fbc9e8b7c7c7066a1db0f
[2] https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/activists-contrast-treatment-blm-pro-trump-mob/2021/01/06/a59a5a0e-506a-11eb-bda4-615aaefd0555_story.html
[3] https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/202111
[4] https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=117&session=1&vote=00002
[5] https://www.businessinsider.com/cori-bush-introduce-bill-remove-gop-lawmakers-attempting-election-overthrow-2021-1
[6] https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/01/06/trump-tweet-violence/
