Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett released the following statement on the four-year anniversary of the violent insurrection at the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
“Four years ago today, our country faced the largest threat to our democracy and the peaceful transfer of power since the Civil War. This attack was premeditated and planned months in advance by violent militia members with close associations with then-President Donald Trump, and was launched by words from Donald Trump himself, speaking only a short distance away from the Capitol: “If you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.” And fight like hell they did – in a period of 5 hours, five people were killed, 174 law enforcement officers were assaulted, members of both parties and the Vice President were forced to flee for their lives, and the halls of the heart of American democracy were desecrated, resulting in $30 million in repair and security costs.
“Since that fateful day, a bipartisan select committee led by House Democrats has revealed the extent to which Donald Trump and his close advisors were involved in the violent insurrection on January 6, 2021. Federal law enforcement have arrested over 1,500 people in connection with the attempted coup, including Donald Trump himself. And yet, in 2025, a sort of collective amnesia has fallen on the Republican Party regarding the fear and fury they experienced on that day, running from Donald Trump’s mob to save their skins. As now President-elect Donald Trump threatens to weaponize his Justice Department against the few brave Republicans who stood up to him to defend the principles of democracy, the majority of his fellow Republicans seem eager to treat this day as just another cold day in January.
“My fellow House Democrats and I will not go along with the GOP’s attempts to rewrite history. January 6, 2021 was not a peaceful demonstration or a “normal tourist visit,” in the words of my colleague, Rep. Andrew Clyde. It was a deadly attempt to disrupt and destroy our democratic process, violate the will of the voters, and steal the presidency.
“Today, we recognize the brave service and sacrifice of our Capitol Police, who have worked tirelessly to ensure that the certification of the 2024 election can proceed safely and peacefully. But no matter who is in the White House, we will not allow the American people – and our own colleagues – to forget what our country experienced four years ago, or deny the threat that Donald Trump and his far-right militia allies pose to our democracy.”
