Rep. Sewell's Opening Statement: 5 Years Since the January 6th Attack

Personal Account of the January 6th Attack

• 📌 Representative Sewell recounts the horrific January 6th attack on the nation's capital, an event seared into her memory.
• 😨 She describes being one of 30 members of Congress trapped in the House gallery, hearing the mob's thundering sound and feeling sheer terror.
• 😥 Huddled with colleagues, she remembers trembling and weeping, not just for their safety but for the devastating threat to democracy.
• 📺 Upon returning home, she was shocked by images of rioters, including Confederate flags, assaults on police, and threats against members of Congress and the Vice President.

January 6th as an Attempted Coup and Defining Moment

• 💥 The events of January 6th are characterized as an attempted coup and an effort to subvert the will of the American people and overturn a free and fair election.
• ⚖️ Sewell draws parallels between January 6th and other defining moments in American history, such as Bloody Sunday in Selma and the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church.
• 💡 These moments, she states, can either make the nation stronger or tear it apart, offering opportunities to heal or to sweep issues under the rug for political convenience.

Criticism of Colleagues and Leadership

• 💔 It is maddening that many colleagues across the aisle continue to choose political convenience over addressing the events of January 6th.
• 🗣️ She finds it shameful that President Trump's first action of his second term was to condemn the criminals responsible for the violence.
• 🏛️ Speaker Johnson's refusal to honor the officers who defended democracy by installing a plaque is also deemed disturbing.

The Importance of Telling Our Story

• 📜 Representing Alabama's civil rights district, Sewell emphasizes the importance of telling one's own story to prevent others from misrepresenting it.
• 🙏 She expresses gratitude to Leader Jeffrey and Chairman Bennie Thompson for the opportunity to tell their story and shine a light on the horrific events.
• 🤝 Sewell thanks the Capitol Police and law enforcement officers who defended democracy, as well as her fellow gallery colleagues for their support.

Hope for the Future

• 😔 January 6th was a dark day in our nation's history.
• ✨ She hopes that everyone can work together to ensure such a heinous attack never happens again.