January 6, 2021
Defend Democracy, Not Sedition
A Statement from Western States Center and Partners
We call on all responsible elected officials and community leaders to immediately publicly condemn the attack on the US Capitol and all assaults on democratic institutions at the state, local and national level. There is no excuse for throngs of Americans attacking the national seat of democracy in an effort to block the peaceful transfer of power. This violence has to stop, and we will not allow ourselves to be intimidated.
Trump has relentlessly fueled conspiracy theories and repeatedly spurred his supporters—including white nationalists and militia members—to violence. Blame rests squarely with Trump and his many enablers, like Senators like Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, Marsha Blackburn, Mike Braun, Steve Daines, Ron Johnson, John Kennedy, James Lankford, as well as Sen.-elects Bill Hagerty, Cynthia Lummis, Roger Marshall and Tommy Tuberville. We are likely to see the effects of the extremism and political violence they have supported for years to come across the country.
We are grateful that Congress is convening urgently tonight to signal to the American public that it will defend democracy and fulfill its constitutional duty to certify the Electoral College votes without delay, making clear that political violence and authoritarian tactics will not impede our democracy.
Certifying the Electoral College is only a first step to safeguarding our democracy. In the short term, state legislatures and communities are likely to see escalating echoes of today’s violence in Washington, D.C. Capital cities including Salem, Olympia, Topeka, and others have experienced similar, though less explosive, anti-democratic mobilizations today. Far-right extremists from some of these communities also traveled to D.C. to participate in today’s assault on democracy, such as members of Oregon’s Timber Unity. As state legislative sessions begin across the country, the risk of anti-democratic activity undermining democratic governance is a significant risk.
While this threat is not new, its growth underlines a frightening truth: not enough is being done to protect our democratic institutions, voters, and elected leaders from political violence. Today's actions were the extension of a pattern we've seen across the country throughout 2020, as statehouses have been threatened by paramilitaries and anti-democratic groups often aligned with white nationalist movements. To oppose the growth of white nationalism, we need to build collective community power from across civil society: elected officials, community groups, grassroots and business leaders.
We are united in our commitment to an inclusive democracy that works for everyone. There is no place for anti-democratic tactics in the West or nationally that put our communities at risk and undermine governance and safety. Now more than ever, civil society and public officials must come together to denounce this extremism and violence.
Jess Campbell, Director, Rural Organizing Project
Oregon State Representative Marty Wilde
Salem City Councilor Trevor Phillips
Rachel Carroll Rivas, Co-Director, Montana Human Rights Network
Samantha Gladu, Executive Director, Next Up & Next Up Action Fund
Reyna Lopez, Executive Director, PCUN
Doug Moore, Executive Director, Oregon League of Conservation Voters
Lisa Arkin, Executive Director, Beyond Toxics
Peter Starzynski, Executive Director, Northwest Accountability Project
Susannah Morgan, CEO, Oregon Food Bank
Sean Stevens, Executive Director, Oregon Wild
Oregon State Representative Andrea Salinas
Adrienne Evans, Executive Director, United Vision for Idaho
Christel Allen, Executive Director, NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon
Shelaswau Crier
Alexa Freedman, School Psychologist, CSUN
Lisa Gardner, President & Chief Executive Officer, Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon
Theresia Lloyd-Siemer, Trustee/Chair of Women’s Committee/Caucus, Oregon AFSCME
Tony DeFalco, Executive Director, Verde
Brett Welch, Behavior Support Facilitator, Multnomah Education Service District
Oregon State Representative Karin Power
David Saez, Executive Director, Centro Latino Americano
Patricia Hine, President, 350 Eugene
Josh Laughlin, Executive Director, Cascadia Wildlands
Chandra Paetsch, Interim Human Services Field Coordinator, SEIU 503
Jordan Michels, Owner/Doctor, Network Chiropractic
Jake Cornett, Executive Director, Disability Rights Oregon
Lane County Commissioner Joe Berney
Oregon State Representative Maxine Dexter
Eugene Water & Electric Board Commissioner Sonya Carlson
Diana Nunez, Executive Director, Oregon Environmental Council
Kyle Curtis, Member Assistance Representative, SEIU 503
Ben Gordon, Executive Director, Central Oregon LandWatch
Heather Stuart, Coalition Director, Fair Shot For All Coalition
Ashley Henry, Business for a Better Portland
James Parker, Deputy Director, Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians
Claire Clark, Co-Coordinator, 350 Salem OR
Eugene City Councilor Emily Semple
Eugene City Councilor Jennifer Yeh
Eugene City Councilor Claire Syrett
Bob Jenks, Executive Director, Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board
Melissa Unger, Executive Director, SEIU Local 503
Rose Wilde, Member of Leadership Team, Showing Up for Racial Justice Springfield Eugene Chapter
Felisa Hagins, Political Director, SEIU 49
Diane Rosenbaum, Chair of the Board, Oregon Women's Investment Network (WINPAC)
Tom Hastings, Secretary, Oregon Peace Institute
Eugene City Councilor Matt Keating
Sally Eck, Lead Consultant, Heartwork Educational Consulting
Brenda Brathwaite, Director, National Education Association
Teresa Nicholas, Social Worker, Oregon School District
Oregon State Representative Janelle Bynum
Dr. Juliette Boewe, School Psychologist
Judy Margles, Director, Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education
Andrew Riley, Communications and Policy Coordinator, Unite Oregon
Becca Uherbelau, Executive Director, Our Oregon
Bobbin Singh, Executive Director, Oregon Justice Resource Center
Olivia Quiroz, Executive Director, Oregon Latino Health Coalition
Brad Reed, Campaign Manager, Renew Oregon
Trent Lutz, Oregon Education Association
Stacey Goldenberg, Attorney/Owner, Stacey Smith Law LLC
Salem Planning Commissioner Casey Kopcho
Nancy Haque, Basic Rights Oregon
An Do, Interim Executive Director, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon
Darilyn Perry Brown, Greater Hells Canyon Council
Multnomah County Commissioner Susheela Jayapal
Multnomah County Commissioner Sharon Meieran
Gregg Small, Executive Director, Climate Solutions
James Monteith, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Eastern Oregon Legacy Lands / Wallowology
Kathleen Holt, Interim Executive Director, APANO
Oregon State Senator Chris Gorsek
Oregon State Representative Rob Nosse
Jesse Burrows, Member Assistance Representative, SEIU 503
Sadie Davis, Member Assistance Representative, SEIU 503
Joseph Cartino, Member, CWA 7901
Francesca Edmonds, Field Organizer, SEIU Local 503, OPEU
Eugene Mayor Lucy Vinis
Marcus Mundy, Executive Director, Coalition of Communities of Color
Chris Wig, Chair, Democratic Party of Lane County
Lucy Kennedy-Wong, Grants & Organizational Planning Manager, 350PDX
Justin Pabalate, Executive Director, Willamette Valley Development Officers
Andrea Valderrama, Policy Director, ACLU OR