AFGE condemns the violent mob of President Trump’s supporters who attacked the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6 in an attempt, through violence, to reverse the 2020 presidential election results and stop the certification that was taking place at the Capitol Building, leaving five people dead including a Capitol Police officer.
“Today, in a shocking scene watched by Americans across the nation, the President of the United States encouraged a mob of anti-democracy protestors to breach the security perimeter of the U.S. Capitol, forcing a lockdown, and endangering the safety of members of Congress, workers at the Capitol, innocent civilians who live nearby, and the law enforcement officials charged with keeping the peace,” said AFGE President Everett Kelley after the incident. “It is nothing short of a desperate attempt to use violence to cling onto power after a clear defeat at the ballot box.”
Kelley also appeared on Facebook Live that evening to share his thoughts with AFGE members on the incident. He reiterated the fact that what happened was indeed an attack on the very democracy that many Americans have died for. And it hit home since he himself is a veteran.
“It can only be described as disgraceful. These were not foreigners. These were Americans that stormed our Capitol Building carrying flags bearing the name Trump,” he said.
“Brothers and sisters, the sadness of this saga is that these Americans were following the words and the encouragement of the President of the United States of America. What a sad day in history for the United States.”