Friend – to all of you who spoke out for our democracy on the anniversary of the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, thank you.

Sadly, on the first anniversary of one of the darkest days for our country, Republicans at all levels doubled down on their extremism and allegiance to the man who incited the insurrection: Donald Trump.

Mitch McConnell released a partisan statement attacking Democrats rather than condemning Trump. The House Republican leader did the same.

Donald Trump himself attacked President Biden while continuing to spread the lies and dangerous rhetoric that led to the insurrection itself.

And across the country, Republicans are continuing an all-out assault on voting rights – introducing several hundred pieces of legislation to suppress the right to vote. That’s why Senate Democrats are pushing harder than ever to pass federal legislation to protect the right to vote, and it’s why I’m once again asking for your grassroots support in making it possible.

Please, in the wake of Republican obstruction one year on from the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, make your voice heard: If you believe the Senate should protect our democracy by eliminating the filibuster to pass voting rights legislation, click here to add your voice right now.

Thank you,

Dick

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Richard Blumenthal
Date: Thu, Jan 6, 2022
Subject: Today’s anniversary and what we’re fighting for

Friend,

One year ago today, on January 6, 2021, our country experienced an assault on the heart of our democracy unlike any other – an armed, violent insurrection at the Capitol incited by then-President of the United States Donald Trump.

I’ll never forget the scenes from that day. They still make me sick to my stomach. Mobs swarming the Capitol, violently attacking, overwhelming, and injuring Capitol Police. Desecrating and damaging the building garbed in their red MAGA hats and carrying Trump flags. They hung nooses. Some wore antisemitic clothing. They personally threatened duly elected members of our representative democracy – including Trump’s own Vice President. Collectively, they were there to do Trump’s bidding: overturn a free and fair election, and usurp our democratic institutions.

But Congress persisted. After the Capitol was cleared, we returned to the Senate and certified Joe Biden as the President of the United States of America. Democracy was severely damaged that day, but, in the end, it won.

In the days and months that followed, the Republican Party did not distance itself from Donald Trump but rather consolidated around him and emboldened his anti-democratic impulses. A majority of Republican members of Congress refused to certify Joe Biden as President. A majority of Republican members of Congress voted against the bipartisan Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol to uncover the full truth behind Jan. 6. A majority of Republicans across the country have pushed Trump’s Big Lie as a means to institute dangerous voter suppression laws.

Today, on the one-year anniversary of this attack on our system of government, Senate Democrats are fighting to strengthen democracy. With zero Republican support, we are voting to pass legislation to put a stop to Trump-led voter suppression that's already succeeded in passing 34 restrictive voting laws in 19 states.

Voting is the bedrock of our democratic republic – and any so-called public servant who makes it harder to vote does our country and our people no service at all. But the people will win. Democracy will win. That’s why, on today’s anniversary, I need a showing of Democratic activism unlike any other – I need 25,000 supporters, including you:

If you believe the Senate should protect our democracy by eliminating the filibuster to pass voting rights legislation, click here to add your voice right now.

We cannot allow Donald Trump and his party to continue their attacks on our democratic institutions. The greatest single thing we can do is guarantee voters’ access to the polls. So please, add your name before my 11:59 p.m. deadline.

January 6, 2021 was one of the darkest days our country has ever experienced. But it also reminded us that democracy is fragile. It taught us that words and representation of the American people matter immensely. And today reminds us that we must continue fighting, with everything we have, to protect our democracy. Thank you for doing your part.

Dick



empowered by Salsa