John –

One year ago today, I was not preparing for a normal workday by any means. But, I truly had no idea what would happen later that day. 

As many of my colleagues were already making their way onto the House floor and insurrectionists were beginning to assault U.S. Capitol Police officers and breach their barriers, I was in my office preparing remarks for when my Republican colleagues objected to President Biden’s victory. 

That’s when I got the message from Security: Stay in your office. DO NOT GO TO THE HOUSE FLOOR. 

Like millions of you across the country, I watched in horror as rioters stormed the Capitol building through broken windows, seeking to overturn the results of the 2020 election. I prayed for my colleagues trapped in the House chamber during an armed standoff, as insurrectionists tried to break down the doors that were being barricaded by Capitol security and Police. 

Spurred on by President Trump’s “big lie” and far-right conspiracy theories that the election was rigged, this mob of violent insurrectionists attacked our temple of democracy and tried to overthrow the will of the people. 

Make no mistake, John – the attack on our Democracy did not start or end on January 6, 2021. Around the country and here in Georgia, Republican state legislators have passed hundreds of voter suppression measures and moved to take administrative power away from non-partisan election officials. All of these laws were pushed under the guise of “election integrity.” 

So, as we mark one year since this attack on our Capitol building and our democratic ideals, I continue to support the work of my colleagues on the January 6th Committee investigating the incident. I will continue to support the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and advocate for access to the ballot box and free and fair elections in Georgia and around the country. 

And I urge my Republican colleagues to reconsider their continued fealty to Donald Trump and their unfounded rejection of Joe Biden’s electoral victory. Continuing to promote these debunked conspiracy theories about our elections is dangerous for our country, for our democracy, and for the citizens our government is sworn to represent. 

History teaches us we must learn from our mistakes in the past or we are doomed to repeat them. I hope and pray that Americans and our elected leaders will learn from what happened on January 6, 2021 – and what has happened since.

Thanks for reading,

– Lucy