John - One year ago today, a violent mob of white supremacists led a deadly insurrection on our Capitol at the behest of former President Donald Trump, who for months was peddling the big lie that the 2020 Presidential election was stolen. Despite repeated warnings of an impending riot from federal officials and months of open planning of the event on social media, the insurrectionists were met by a woefully small and scantily prepared police presence that they immediately overwhelmed.

Footage quickly emerged of Capitol Police abandoning barricades, taking selfies with rioters, escorting them through the building, and otherwise aiding the mob as they infiltrated and desecrated the most sacred halls of our democracy. In the weeks and months that followed, the public learned that Capitol Police intentionally barred the use of crowd-control and riot preparation measures on 1/6. We learned that dozens of active military and law enforcement personnel were among the insurrections – including a Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Deputy whose identity has still not been made public by Sheriff Villanueva.

The police chose to not be prepared in the face of armed, violent white supremacists raiding the heart of our republic, just as they chose – only a few months before – to meet unarmed and peaceful BLM protesters with battalions of militarized police.

I was in Washington DC after the state-sanctioned murder of George Floyd. The police presence was unparalleled – thousands of cops in military formation and full riot gear armed to the teeth with tear gas, stun grenades, and less-lethal guns. Mounted police stood behind as backup. The National Guard was called in by the Mayor. Military tanks roamed the streets of the city. Protesters were kettled as cops ransacked supplies like water and face shields.

My wife and I, alongside hundreds of others, were trampled by the Secret Service as we stood peacefully outside the White House. Across the country, law enforcement agencies brutalized peaceful protesters and journalists alike. Here in Los Angeles, LAPD officers repeatedly fired less-lethal rounds at protesters – including at point-blank range – with many shots aimed at a person’s head or groin, inflicting serious wounds.

What did Congress do? Instead of abolishing the filibuster and passing voting rights legislation like the For The People Act and Rep. Cori Bush’s resolution to expel seditionist members of Congress who aided the rioters, the response was to escalate the militarization of police by authorizing another $2.1 billion for Capitol Police and other law enforcement agencies.

Here’s the reality, John. Total U.S. police spending equals over $118 billion annually – more than every other country in the world spends annually on its military, except for China. In other words, U.S. police agencies are the third largest military in the world. The scarcity of cops during the insurrection was not a result of resource deficiencies – it was a deliberate choice. It is outrageous that the response from lawmakers was to prop up the military-industrial complex even further.

Today marks one year since that fateful Wednesday, and as the 2022 midterm elections loom, it remains unclear if Congress will act decisively on voting rights, even as conservative states continue to enact racist and classist voter suppression measures entirely based on Trump’s big lie. In short, we have failed to act on any of the root causes of why the insurrection happened and how we can prevent it from happening again.

It’s unconscionable that Democrats still haven't secured our fundamental right to vote.

John, if you agree that Congress must act NOW to end the filibuster, pass the For The People Act, and enact Rep. Bush’s resolution, please add your name here.

ADD YOUR NAME!

Thank you, John.

- Shervin Aazami
Candidate for Congress, CA-32