Today the League of Women Voters of the United States’ president Dr. Deborah Turner and CEO Virginia Kase Solomón issued the following joint statement on the anniversary of the January 6th attack at the US Capitol:
“One year ago today, our democracy faced a historic threat when violent insurrectionists stormed the US Capitol in an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election. As a result, lives were lost, dozens sustained serious injuries, and our nation was traumatized.
“The perpetrators of January 6 sought to invalidate the will of the people in an election proven fair and secure. In doing so, they attempted to undermine the most fundamental component of American democracy: the voice of the people, as expressed through the power to vote.
“As we reflect on that consequential day, we must continue to uphold the freedom to vote for all Americans. We must work to pass federal voting rights legislation that will protect voters from discrimination and empower those who've been historically suppressed at the ballot box. We must push back against the disinformation that aims to sow distrust in our democracy. We must draw fair maps so that politicians prioritize the needs of our communities over the needs of their parties.
“In the face of ongoing threats to our democracy, we must take meaningful action to protect and strengthen our nation and ensure we never see such an attack again. We are ready to step into these values in 2022, building a stronger democracy for all of us.”
The League of Women Voters remains committed to empowering voters through education and advocacy to advance the voting rights of all voters.
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PRESS CONTACT: Shannon Augustus | 202-768-9578 | [email protected]
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Our nation is at a crucial turning point, how we proceed will determine whether our democracy survives. Our system of government is fractured, but the will of the people is strong. We don’t have a reputation for backing down and we will not give up now. Quite the opposite.
Just as our advocacy led, directly or indirectly, to all the gains mentioned above, our actions can save our democracy in this pivotal moment.
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