LEADER JEFFRIES ON THE CAPITOL STEPS: "WE WILL NEVER ALLOW A VIOLENT INSURRECTION TO TAKE PLACE ON AMERICAN SOIL AGAIN"
Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press event with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and House and Senate Members, where they marked five years since the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 and honored those whose lives were lost.
LEADER JEFFRIES: Good evening. Thank you, Leader Schumer, Speaker Emerita Pelosi, to the Sicknick and Smith family and to all of my colleagues who are present.
Today, we gather here on the steps of the United States Congress, the citadel of our democracy, to commemorate the solemn five-year anniversary of the violent insurrection incited by Donald Trump to overturn the results of a free and fair election. On that fateful day, hundreds of brave, courageous and dedicated Capitol Police and DC officers stood on these very steps and across the Capitol grounds to defend the Congress, the country and the Constitution. They were outnumbered by a violent mob, but never overwhelmed by the seriousness of the moment.
For more than five hours, they were forced to engage in hand-to-hand combat, confronting thousands of bloodthirsty rioters who were unleashed by Donald Trump. They were beaten with pipes, whipped, assaulted by bear spray and pummeled by Confederate flagpoles. They were bloodied but unbowed. We owe these heroes an eternal debt of gratitude and will never forget their service and their sacrifice.
Had it not been for their bravery on that fateful day, many of us would not be alive right now standing on these Capitol steps, continuing to serve our nation. And I have a simple message for the violent mob of insurrectionists: Donald Trump may have pardoned your crimes, but only God can pardon your sin. James Baldwin once made the observation that history 'is not merely something to be read and it does not refer merely or even principally to the past. On the contrary, the great force of history comes from the fact that we carry it within us, are unconsciously controlled by it...and history is literally present in all that we do...it is to history that we owe our frames of reference, our identities and our aspirations.'
We gather here today because we are still living the history of January 6th and we will never allow it to be whitewashed. We thank the heroes of January 6th. We remember those whose lives were lost, aspire to be a better nation and make clear to the election deniers that we will never allow a violent insurrection to take place on American soil again.
Today we are joined by the families of officers Brian Sicknick and Jeffrey Smith. Gladys, Ken and Aaron, thank you so much for your presence here today and for your continued strength and patriotism.
Now I ask everyone to join us in a moment of silence, to remember those whose lives were lost as a result of the tragic and horrific events of January 6, 2021.
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May God bless those whose lives have been lost, their families, Capitol police, members of law enforcement and may God continue to bless the United States of America.
Full event can be watched here.