Today, violent supporters of President Trump breached the US Capitol complex leading to significant damage, injuries, and at least one confirmed death by gunshot. The chaotic and dangerous scene also halted the congressional certification of the Electoral College.
In response, Senator Omar Fateh (DFL-Minneapolis) and Senator McEwen (DFL-Duluth) released the following open letter:
Friends,
What we are seeing today is the hypocrisy of the right-wing manifest. Since Donald J. Trump lost his reelection as President, GOP leaders, charlatans and alt-right grifters have pushed a false narrative that the presidential election was rigged against them. Whether they truly believe this narrative or not, actions have consequences.
The events taking place on Capitol Hill today are the consequence of those actions. We have seen armed standoffs, at least one of which resulted in a woman being shot. There are lives at risk, including the lives of civilians as well as lawmakers and staff—workers.
This summer, the Twin Cities experienced an uprising in response to the murder of George Floyd. The people of Minnesota took to the streets to stand against police brutality. They stood up for our basic rights and for the American idea that we are all endowed the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They recognized that these ideas are not fully realized while people like George Floyd are being murdered by the state.
When unrest was taking place in our state—when the demonstrators included black and brown Minnesotans standing against an unjust system—they were met with the full force of the state to restore law and order. Leaders on our side of the aisle implored people to stay safe and stay peaceful while leaders on the other side of the aisle called them gangsters and thugs, vilified and blamed them for the problems facing America.
When protestors took to the streets this summer, they were standing up for human rights, for democracy, against fascism. The insurrectionists who have stormed Washington stand against our values. They seek to overturn the will of the people, end American democracy, and replace it with a fascist dictatorship.
We are senators for the State of Minnesota, and as such we do not engage in politics at the national level very often, but in moments such as this one we feel we have no choice but to address the issue at hand and take a firm public stand in favor of democracy against fascism.
Today, we are calling on our colleagues on the other side of the aisle, the Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus, to firmly condemn the affront to our democracy taking place, to condemn the words of Donald Trump and other Republican leaders which encouraged these bad actors, and to reaffirm their commitment to democracy, the peaceful transition of power after elections and condemn fascism as it rears its ugly head before us.
Thank you,
Senator Omar Fateh
Senator Jen McEwen
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