Dear friend,

January 6, 2021 will forever be etched in infamy as one of the darkest days in American history.

The day started with a beacon of hope from Georgia; we began to approach the democracy we aspire to be. Black voters, whose vote our country has historically suppressed and taken for granted, turned out in record numbers, delivering both Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff victories that will reshape the balance of power in the Senate.

This is no small feat, and our country's future is brighter because of the hard work that progressive organizations — particularly those led by women of color, including our own Georgia Conservation Voters affiliate. Not only does this mean Georgians have elected their first Black senator and first Jewish senator, but these victories are a reflection of more inclusive elections and the more inclusive democracy we strive for. Thank you for all you did to help secure these wins.

Though we started the day with jubilant news out of Georgia, the atmosphere of celebration and accomplishment was quickly overtaken.

We witnessed the reckless and opportunistic behavior of some Members of Congress who used a routine procedural vote for their own political gain by objecting to the certification of a free, fair, and legitimate presidential election result. We watched in horror and outrage as a lawless mob of white supremacists violently overtook the Capitol. These terrorists were incited by an increasingly unhinged President Trump, who is unfit for office and remains a clear and present danger to the safety and security of everyone in this country. He must resign immediately or be removed from office.

The brazen entitlement with which this mob acted — and the ease with which these terrorists were able to storm the Capitol — was shocking. Last summer Black and Brown demonstrators were met with a show of force. That Wednesday's riot led by white supremacists was handled in a radically different manner speaks volumes to the systemic and institutional racism in this country.

The electoral victories of Senators-elect Warnock and Ossoff ensure that we will soon have pro-democracy, pro-justice, and pro-environment leadership in both houses of Congress. When President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris are sworn in on January 20th, our nation can move forward with unified resolve to address the intertwined crises of systemic racism, the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impacts, and climate change.

Though we are deeply saddened by Wednesday's events, we are heartened by the promise of brighter days ahead in which bold, sweeping changes will foster a safer, healthier, and freer country for all. To ensure this vision is realized, LCV's Democracy for All program will continue unabated in its efforts to preserve and strengthen access to the ballot and beat back pernicious attempts to dismantle democratic norms and institutions.

Thank you for being a part of this work.

Onward,

Gene Karpinski
President
League of Conservation Voters