January 6, 2021

 Defend Democracy, Not Sedition

A Statement from Western States Center and Partners

We call on all responsible elected officials and community leaders to immediately publicly condemn the attack on the US Capitol and all assaults on democratic institutions at the state, local and national level. There is no excuse for throngs of Americans attacking the national seat of democracy in an effort to block the peaceful transfer of power. This violence has to stop, and we will not allow ourselves to be intimidated.

Trump has relentlessly fueled conspiracy theories and repeatedly spurred his supporters—including white nationalists and militia members—to violence. Blame rests squarely with Trump and his many enablers, like Senators like Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, Marsha Blackburn, Mike Braun, Steve Daines, Ron Johnson, John Kennedy, James Lankford, as well as Sen.-elects Bill Hagerty, Cynthia Lummis, Roger Marshall and Tommy Tuberville. We are likely to see the effects of the extremism and political violence they have supported for years to come across the country.

We are grateful that Congress is convening urgently tonight to signal to the American public that it will defend democracy and fulfill its constitutional duty to certify the Electoral College votes without delay, making clear that political violence and authoritarian tactics will not impede our democracy.

Certifying the Electoral College is only a first step to safeguarding our democracy. In the short term, state legislatures and communities are likely to see escalating echoes of today’s violence in Washington, D.C. Capital cities including Salem, Olympia, Topeka, and others have experienced similar, though less explosive, anti-democratic mobilizations today. Far-right extremists from some of these communities also traveled to D.C. to participate in today’s assault on democracy, such as members of Oregon’s Timber Unity. As state legislative sessions begin across the country, the risk of anti-democratic activity undermining democratic governance is a significant risk.

While this threat is not new, its growth underlines a frightening truth: not enough is being done to protect our democratic institutions, voters, and elected leaders from political violence. Today's actions were the extension of a pattern we've seen across the country throughout 2020, as statehouses have been threatened by paramilitaries and anti-democratic groups often aligned with white nationalist movements. To oppose the growth of white nationalism, we need to build collective community power from across civil society: elected officials, community groups, grassroots and business leaders.

We are united in our commitment to an inclusive democracy that works for everyone. There is no place for anti-democratic tactics in the West or nationally that put our communities at risk and undermine governance and safety. Now more than ever, civil society and public officials must come together to denounce this extremism and violence.

Jess Campbell, Director, Rural Organizing Project

Oregon State Representative Marty Wilde

Salem City Councilor Trevor Phillips

Rachel Carroll Rivas, Co-Director, Montana Human Rights Network

Samantha Gladu, Executive Director, Next Up & Next Up Action Fund

Reyna Lopez, Executive Director, PCUN

Doug Moore, Executive Director, Oregon League of Conservation Voters

Lisa Arkin, Executive Director, Beyond Toxics

Peter Starzynski, Executive Director, Northwest Accountability Project

Susannah Morgan, CEO, Oregon Food Bank

Sean Stevens, Executive Director, Oregon Wild

Oregon State Representative Andrea Salinas

Adrienne Evans, Executive Director, United Vision for Idaho

Christel Allen, Executive Director, NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon

Shelaswau Crier

Alexa Freedman, School Psychologist, CSUN

Lisa Gardner, President & Chief Executive Officer, Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon

Theresia Lloyd-Siemer, Trustee/Chair of Women’s Committee/Caucus, Oregon AFSCME

Tony DeFalco, Executive Director, Verde

Brett Welch, Behavior Support Facilitator, Multnomah Education Service District

Oregon State Representative Karin Power

David Saez, Executive Director, Centro Latino Americano
Patricia Hine, President, 350 Eugene

Josh Laughlin, Executive Director, Cascadia Wildlands

Chandra Paetsch, Interim Human Services Field Coordinator, SEIU 503

Jordan Michels, Owner/Doctor, Network Chiropractic

Jake Cornett, Executive Director, Disability Rights Oregon

Lane County Commissioner Joe Berney

Oregon State Representative Maxine Dexter

Eugene Water & Electric Board Commissioner Sonya Carlson

Diana Nunez, Executive Director, Oregon Environmental Council

Kyle Curtis, Member Assistance Representative, SEIU 503

Ben Gordon, Executive Director, Central Oregon LandWatch

Heather Stuart, Coalition Director, Fair Shot For All Coalition

Ashley Henry, Business for a Better Portland

James Parker, Deputy Director, Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians

Claire Clark, Co-Coordinator, 350 Salem OR

Eugene City Councilor Emily Semple

Eugene City Councilor Jennifer Yeh

Eugene City Councilor Claire Syrett

Bob Jenks, Executive Director, Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board

Melissa Unger, Executive Director, SEIU Local 503

Rose Wilde, Member of Leadership Team, Showing Up for Racial Justice Springfield Eugene Chapter

Felisa Hagins, Political Director, SEIU 49

Diane Rosenbaum, Chair of the Board, Oregon Women's Investment Network (WINPAC)

Tom Hastings, Secretary, Oregon Peace Institute

Eugene City Councilor Matt Keating

Sally Eck, Lead Consultant, Heartwork Educational Consulting

Brenda Brathwaite, Director, National Education Association 

Teresa Nicholas, Social Worker, Oregon School District

Oregon State Representative Janelle Bynum

Dr. Juliette Boewe, School Psychologist

Judy Margles, Director, Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education

Andrew Riley, Communications and Policy Coordinator, Unite Oregon

Becca Uherbelau, Executive Director, Our Oregon

Bobbin Singh, Executive Director, Oregon Justice Resource Center

Olivia Quiroz, Executive Director, Oregon Latino Health Coalition

Brad Reed, Campaign Manager, Renew Oregon

Trent Lutz, Oregon Education Association

Stacey Goldenberg, Attorney/Owner, Stacey Smith Law LLC

Salem Planning Commissioner Casey Kopcho

Nancy Haque, Basic Rights Oregon

An Do, Interim Executive Director, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon

Darilyn Perry Brown, Greater Hells Canyon Council

Multnomah County Commissioner Susheela Jayapal

Multnomah County Commissioner Sharon Meieran

Gregg Small, Executive Director, Climate Solutions

James Monteith, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Eastern Oregon Legacy Lands / Wallowology

Kathleen Holt, Interim Executive Director, APANO

Oregon State Senator Chris Gorsek

Oregon State Representative Rob Nosse

Jesse Burrows, Member Assistance Representative, SEIU 503

Sadie Davis, Member Assistance Representative, SEIU 503

Joseph Cartino, Member, CWA 7901

Francesca Edmonds, Field Organizer, SEIU Local 503, OPEU

Eugene Mayor Lucy Vinis

Marcus Mundy, Executive Director, Coalition of Communities of Color

Chris Wig, Chair, Democratic Party of Lane County

Lucy Kennedy-Wong, Grants & Organizational Planning Manager, 350PDX

Justin Pabalate, Executive Director, Willamette Valley Development Officers

Andrea Valderrama, Policy Director, ACLU OR