The Harvard College Democrats releases this message in addition to the bipartisan statement on election certification, also published today.
Democracy is about every single American’s right to self-government. Today, on January 6, 2021, the U.S. Capitol was stormed in defiance of our democracy. This insurrection was encouraged—knowingly and repeatedly—by President Trump and his allies. President Trump must be impeached by the House of Representatives, convicted by the Senate, and disqualified from holding public office.
This course of action should not be taken lightly. But the President of the United States has instigated and encouraged an insurrection that culminated with the occupation of the U.S. Capitol. Since he began his campaign for president, Donald Trump has spread violence-inducing misinformation and conspiracy theories, overreaching his authority to secure his position in power—no matter the cost to the American people and our democracy.
As insurrectionists invaded the Capitol, President Trump amplified their claims of election fraud and told them “We love you. You’re very special,” in his feigned calls for peace. He refused to denounce these acts of domestic terrorism. He delayed the deployment of the National Guard to Washington, DC. President Trump has long been an enemy of democracy, and on January 6, 2021, he fully abandoned his oath of office.
It is now time for Republican elected officials to respond to President Trump’s subversion, and uphold their oaths to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. Failure to do so will solidify a dangerous precedent and do irreparable damage to American democracy. Today’s events do not represent the America we can and must be.
Sincerely,
Harvard College Democrats Executive Board