Updates

January 7, 2021 | Media

Councilmember Brianne Nadeau's Statement on Attack on the U.S. Capitol

Yesterday started off as an exciting day for District residents, as we celebrated the possibility of Statehood in our near future after the wins of Georgia’s first Black senator and the Jewish son of an immigrant to the United States Senate. 

We then watched in horror, as pro-Trump supporters violently stormed the United States Capitol. I am joining the Mayor in calling on the Joint Terrorism Task Force to ensure that the insurrectionists are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and that we get a full accounting of how they were allowed to breach the Capitol. I want to thank the Members of Congress and their staff, who returned to work last night to press onward in the peaceful transfer of power to the Biden – Harris Administration. In only 13 days we will finally be free of the tyranny of President Donald Trump, who I believe should be removed from power immediately for inciting violence against our government and our people. Shame on the many other national government leaders who joined him in inciting violence.  

Our fight for DC Statehood has never felt more important. We need self-determination in order to fully protect our residents, and until we achieve statehood and full representation in Congress, we remain at the mercy of the federal government. 

I want to reiterate, for the third time in as many days, that I fully and forcefully condemn the messages and actions of these hate groups and insurrectionists. The District of Columbia is not just our nation’s capital. It is home to more than 700,000 residents who are trying to live their lives, raise their families and do their jobs. We have always welcomed visitors who come to demonstrate peacefully. THIS was not THAT. We should not “both sides” insurrectionists and peaceful protestors to give them equal protection under the First Amendment.  

In the chaos of the attempted coup and attack on our democracy, we also witnessed, once again, the double standard of policing. We should all be outraged at the stark difference in treatment between yesterday’s insurrectionists and the Black Lives Matter protestors this summer.  

Many of us are still processing what occurred in our city in the last 24 hours, but what I know for certain is that we need to continue to amplify Black voices and listen to the demands of those most impacted by the hate and inequalities of our society.