Friend,
Over the last month, the bipartisan House select committee
investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection
[link removed]
has methodically documented concerted efforts by former
President Donald Trump and his supporters to overturn the 2020
election despite knowing he lost.
The committee has presented substantial evidence of coordination
between Trump and his supporters - including current members of
Congress and two extremist groups the Southern Poverty Law Center has
tracked for years. These groups acted as a violent vanguard to direct
the energy of other protesters in the deadly attack on our
nation's Capitol.
We are pleased that the committee highlighted the key role these
groups - including the Proud Boys
[link removed]
, one of the most violent extremist groups in the U.S. at the
time of the insurrection, and the antigovernment, heavily
armed Oath Keepers
[link removed]
- played in attacking the Capitol, as well as highlighting
the direct connection between them and Trump.
Yet, these disturbing revelations are just the beginning.
The SPLC has documented
[link removed]
that the threat of political violence has substantially
increased since Jan. 6. The work of the committee to ensure
transparency, accountability and real consequences for the planners
and perpetrators of the Capitol insurrection - and those who
inspired and funded their activities - is essential for
addressing the ongoing threat to our democracy.
Jan. 6 was a warning that cannot be ignored. The disinformation
campaign contrived by leaders of the insurrection has prompted efforts
to sabotage future elections and our fundamental right to choose our
own leaders. These efforts include the enactment of dozens of
discriminatory anti-voter laws that disproportionately disenfranchise
voters of color and are designed to control election outcomes, as well
as the harassment and intimidation of state and local election
officials for doing their jobs. The ongoing threat to our democracy is
clear and underscores the urgent need to pass legislation to protect
our democratic election procedures and to combat hate, extremism and
misinformation.
Finally, the continuing work of the committee must prompt action to
prove that no one is above the law in a democracy. We are pleased that
the Department of Justice has charged hundreds of planners and
perpetrators of the deadly insurrection with serious criminal charges
- including seditious conspiracy. The SPLC will continue to
advocate that anyone criminally responsible for the attempt to undo a
democratic election must face the full range of consequences for their
actions.
Sincerely,
Margaret Huang, SPLC President and CEO
The SPLC is a catalyst for racial justice in the South and beyond,
working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy,
strengthen intersectional movements, and advance the human rights of
all people.
Friend, will you make a gift to help the SPLC fight for
justice and equity in courts and combat white supremacy?
DONATE
[link removed]
--
Unsubscribe [link removed] | Privacy Policy [link removed] | Contact Us [link removed]
Southern Poverty Law Center
400 Washington Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36104
334.956.8200 // splcenter.org
[link removed]
Copyright 2022
