Testimony Highlights the Aftermath of January 6 and What It Means for American Democracy
Washington, D.C. — Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward, testified today at a hearing convened by U.S. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, former January 6th Select Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, and House Democratic members, “After January 6th: Setting the Record Straight on the Capitol Insurrection.” Perryman’s testimony focused on the aftermath of the insurrection on January 6, 2021, what it means, how the president’s actions continue to harm American democracy, and called on Congress to check the president’s abuses.
Perryman, who joined current and former elected leaders and law enforcement, was the only representative of civil society to give testimony on her panel.
Perryman’s testimony highlighted that the insurrection was not an isolated attack that ended that day—it marked the start of an ongoing crisis for our democracy, and five years later, that ongoing danger is playing out through executive overreach, the politicization of government, and the erosion of fundamental constitutional rights. She also focused on the path forward, calling upon Congress to fulfill its Constitutional duty to check abuses of power by the President and the American people to continue to remain engaged in communities and courts across the nation.
Perryman noted that across the nation, people of all ideological and personal backgrounds are affirming their commitment to the non-negotiable principles of American democracy as part of the We Hold These Truths initiative. She announced that the initiative is launching a pledge campaign today to show support among people of all backgrounds in our nation for the non-negotiational principles of our democracy: voting and elections, equality, due process, personal freedom, and the rule of law.
Read Perryman’s testimony as prepared here.
“The threat to the American people and our democracy that many of you experienced first hand on January 6th is now playing out on national and global stages – with the president seeking to assert king-like authority over the American people, even as the nation celebrates the 250 year anniversary of declaring its independence from a king,” Perryman told the lawmakers. “And, yet, there is another part of what is happening in America that provides a pathway for the future. As some powerful institutions have given in to the president’s intimidation tactics – while others have opted to sit on the sidelines – the people have stepped forward.”
Perryman’s testimony highlighted that the nation has seen the largest peaceful mobilization of people in U.S. history in response to excesses of this administration as part of the No Kings protests. She discussed the ways in which people are showing up in courts to defend their rights and how former civil servants who the president has attacked who are continuing to find ways to work for the American people: “The people must keep showing up too, as we will in courts and communities across the nation. We must fight and overcome those threats to our democracy that we saw in all their ugliness five years ago today in this very building.”
Democracy Forward is a nonpartisan, national legal organization that represents people and communities in court to ensure that their rights are protected. Since the president’s inauguration, the Trump-Vance administration has cut off essential funding for people and communities, decimated federal agencies created by Congress that serve the American people’s interests, and endangered core First Amendment freedoms, due process, and our system of checks and balances. Democracy Forward has played a leading role in inspiring courage and in protecting the American people from harmful and unlawful federal executive action. The organization has filed hundreds of legal actions, launched hundreds of investigations, and, through its Democracy2025 initiative, has organized the largest, most successful affirmative litigation effort against executive branch excesses in United States history.
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