AFL-CIO decries ‘attempted coup’ at U.S. Capitol

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 6, 2021) — Domestic terrorists who support President Trump, egged on by the president himself, stormed the U.S. Capitol today, forcing a delay in the certification of the election result of Joe Biden as the next President of the United States.

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka released the following statement at 1 p.m. PST:

We are witnessing one of the greatest assaults on our democracy since the Civil War. Today’s attempted coup has been years in the making as President Donald Trump consistently spews venom, conspiracies, hate and lies to his supporters.

They are carrying out his wishes, and far too many Republican lawmakers have enabled and even encouraged this violent threat to our republic. Emboldened by an Electoral College system that creates an avenue for insurrection instead of simply certifying the candidate with the most votes, this is an effort to violate the constitutional rights of every law-abiding American and the labor movement will not stand for it. Not today. Not ever.