WSLC condemns assault on U.S. Capitol

(Jan. 6, 2021) — Statement from President Larry Brown and Secretary Treasurer April Sims of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO on today’s violence at the U.S. Capitol Building:

Today we are seeing a direct assault on the fundamental right of government by the people, for the people. It is an assault on the people’s representatives, on public servants, and on the working people that make the U.S. Capitol run. The people have spoken; Joe Biden is President-elect.

In this moment, we are thinking of our immigrant siblings who have escaped authoritarian governments and dictatorships in search of free democracy. Today, we are all seeing a sitting president incite a mob to prevent the peaceful transition of power. We know that today’s events are traumatizing for so many of us, especially as we watch the stark contrast between the treatment of the pro-Trump rioters attempting a coup, and the treatment of Black Lives Matter protestors demanding justice for all Americans.

We cannot ignore that Republicans, including Washington’s own Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, have encouraged and enabled this desperate attempt to hold onto power to distract from their failure to help working families get critical pandemic relief in the midst of crisis.

We call on all elected officials to do your duty and respect the peoples’ vote. It is past time to work to contain the pandemic, deliver relief to working people, and move forward together. The labor movement stands ready to fight for all working people, and defend liberty and justice for all.