Family Values @ Work Statement on Yesterday’s Attack on the Capitol

(WASHINGTON, DC)––Family Values @ Work is a movement network of grassroots coalitions in more than two dozen states working to win paid family and medical leave, earned sick and safe days, and affordable, high-quality childcare at the state and national levels. Today, Wendy Chun-Hoon, executive director, released the following statement on yesterday’s attack on the Capitol:

“Yesterday’s violent attack on the Capitol was not unbelievable: It was the orchestrated and condoned effort of a president who has consistently used his office to incite violence, advance doctrines of hatred, and reinforce practices of systemic racism, inequity, and misogyny. Add to that the silence and encouragement of many elected officials, and the passive and enabling behavior of the Capitol Police, and what we got was a welcome mat for white nationalists into the sacred halls of our legislature––a response wholly different from the rubber bullets and riot gear that met peaceful Black Lives Matter protests last year.

“The attack on the Capitol wasn’t a protest, it was a warning delivered with impunity by domestic terrorists bearing symbols of white nationalism: a Klan tattoo, a Confederate flag, a shirt proclaiming “Camp Auschwitz.” They broke in and sauntered out without fear of reprisals. They felt and were protected by the highest power. They desecrated the symbols of democracy in support of an authoritarian regime.

“This privileged behavior of debased insurrectionists is not new. For generations, this country has enabled the entitled behavior of white, cis-gender men at the expense of marginalized and disenfranchised communities, including women, communities of color, religious minorities, and the LGBTQ community. These are the voices and votes they sought to silence yesterday. These are the people who have systematically had to deal with voter suppression, intimidation, and tampering. These are the communities who rescued this nation from the tyranny of this president by showing up at the polls en masse. And these are the people who most need to see accountability for the chaos that was permitted in Washington, D.C., yesterday. 

“It is unfortunate that yesterday’s bedlam overshadowed what would have otherwise been a day of celebration for these same communities, when the Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff both won their runoff elections in Georgia. Their victories were powered by women and communities of color––particularly Black women––and reversed the balance of power in Congress. These wins brought with them an opportunity for our leaders to recommit to advancing equity and a care economy that works for everyone.

“The entire Family Values @ Work network demands a full investigation into the actions of all participants in yesterday’s riot, so that the terrorists are held responsible and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Congress must also use its powers to identify and hold accountable everyone responsible for inciting and spurring this violence, including its own members and members of the administration. 

“We congratulate Senators-elect Warnock and Ossoff and look forward to working with all of our elected officials, on the state and federal levels, to pass common-sense policies to reunite our nation, support working families, and restore our democracy.

“We are not alone in this fight. People across the nation are ready to fight for an inclusive government that will honor the contributions of all working people, no matter their race or class. And our network stands ready to support people to effect change in their communities, states, and on the federal level. Together, we are ready to build a nation where the type of vile hatred on display yesterday is not only unacceptable, but is also met with swift rebuke and consequences. And we will continue to ward against all signs of authoritarianism, including every effort to suppress votes.

“It is incumbent upon us all to stand firm in our demand for action, and resolute in our commitment to working to make a nation that aligns with our ideals of equity, mutual respect, and justice. We cannot allow ourselves to be deterred. Now is the time to use our collective voices and power to bring about the change we want to see, in order to be the truly democratic nation we aspire to be.”

Photo courtesy of Working Families Party.

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