John, this isn’t an easy email to write. But I want to share with you what I saw and will never forget about January 6, 2021.
The GOP has made it clear that they'd prefer to brush over this day and move forward, but I refuse to forget. And I refuse to stay quiet.
One year ago on January 6, 2021, only three days after I was sworn into office, armed, white supremacist insurrectionists stormed the U.S. Capitol in a deadly attack.
I remember sitting up in the gallery, listening to floor speeches, knowing that there was supposed to be a protest. I walked out to see what was happening outside, and I first saw the tip-top of flags, and then I saw more of the flags. Then I realized how close they were to our building.
So I hopped on the nearest elevator and headed back to my office. When I walked in, I saw on the television that people had already breached the doors, and I thought to myself, "Is this actually happening?" I remember sitting in the office with my team and feeling like, "I'm back on the streets of Ferguson," and thinking, "If they touch these doors and come anywhere near my staff, it’s on."
My thought process was: we banging till the end. I'm not letting them take out my people, and you're not taking me out. We've come too far.
In the days and months later we've learned more about this white supremacist attack, how top Republican officials and some of my colleagues were involved in the planning, and just how close the insurrectionists were to Members of Congress.
It is critical we recognize this attack for what it was — a white supremacist attack related to our voting rights. It was a racist attempt to invalidate our voices and diminish the votes of millions of Black, brown, and Indigenous folks.
When we downplay this history and refuse to take action, this white supremacy only spreads. Over the past year, I have received countless violent threats, been harassed by my own colleagues, and ridiculed by the far-right media, but I've also dedicated myself to ensuring they do not have the final word.
There's a lot of work ahead of us to dismantle the forces of white supremacy and systemic racism in our country. If you're with me in this fight, make a donation today to help my team grow our movement for justice, push for accountability, and stand up against white supremacy.
Your Congresswoman loves you,
Cori Bush
