Neighbors,
Like you, I am still reeling from yesterday's shocking events at the United States Capitol. Never in my life, could I have imagined that the President of the United States would incite a violent insurrection against our own government, in the heart of our city. Last night, I called on Vice President Pence to invoke the 25th amendment and Congress to begin impeachment proceedings to remove this dangerous despot currently occupying the White House and prevent him from inciting further violence.
I was also struck by the extreme leniency of law enforcement, who in some cases appeared to allow these insurrectionists to enter and ransack our Capitol. The gentle treatment of domestic terrorists is unacceptable and indicative of the double standard in policing that sparked national calls for racial justice and defunding of police departments this summer. We need only look to the use of tear gas and rubber bullets against peaceful protesters calling for justice, to see the disparate use of force on full display.
Yesterday also presented yet another example of why DC deserves statehood immediately. Mayor Bowser was required to request national guard presence through the Department of Defense instead of mobilizing them herself as every other Governor can do. It took us hours to coordinate a response with the federal government that would have taken any governor minutes. If DC were a state, we could have responded far quicker and potentially stopped this assault on our democracy.
I hope we can use yesterday's shameful episode to right the wrong of disenfranchisement and make DC the nation's 51st state.
In service,
Kenyan
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