March On’s Official Statement on Insurrection at the Capitol

America is in the midst of an attempted coup. While the events of yesterday unfolded rapidly, the forces that caused it have been developing over months and years. It was both stunning and utterly expected—after months of Trump inciting such insurrection with lies and hatred—to watch violent mobs break into the Capitol Building, endanger the lives of essential workers and threaten journalists. Within hours of the election of Georgia's first Black and Jewish senators, a mob based in white supremacy waved a Confederate flag in the halls and erected a hanging platform and noose on those hallowed grounds. While this summer's diverse group of peaceful protestors was met with teargas and rubber bullets, today's lawless mob—attempting to overturn a democratic election—was met with little resistance and allowed to walk out of the building with impunity.

This is a direct result of the actions of Donald Trump and the Republican Party. Last night’s speeches by several Republican leaders indicated a desire to simply move past these events as though they never happened—and we must not. March On demands the censure of those members who were complicit and the immediate enactment of the 25th Amendment to remove Donald Trump from office. He is a clear and present danger to our democracy, and this country faces deepening peril every minute that he remains. We also ask President-elect Biden, when he takes office on January 20, to do everything in his power to hold accountable those who are responsible for this sedition. Otherwise, there will be a next time, and it will be worse.

—Vanessa Wruble, Executive Director, March On