WisDems Chair Ben Wikler Statement on the Anniversary of 1/6

MADISON, Wis. — Today, Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler released the following statement marking the anniversary of the January 6th attack on the United States Capitol:

“Today, we mark the second anniversary of a horrific and devastating attack on our democracy and the rule of law. Incited by a defeated president desperate to cling to power, a mob attacked the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to disrupt the counting of electoral votes and overturn a free and fair election.

“Thanks to the courageous work of the bipartisan January 6th Commission, we now know this attack was incited not just by the former president alone. As in many states, Republican politicians in Wisconsin played a role in one of the darkest days in American history — from Ron Johnson and Scott Fitzgerald’s participation in the plot to install fake presidential electors, to Derrick Van Orden’s presence at the 1/6 riot itself. And we know that Mike Gallagher, Bryan Steil, Glenn Grothman, and Tom Tiffany all joined Johnson and Fitzgerald in refusing to hold Trump accountable for his crimes, voted against the search for truth in the January 6 Commission, and voted against reforms to our political process to make January 6-type crises less likely in the future.

“Accountability matters. As we mark this anniversary, we must recognize the many ways in which Republican politicians in Wisconsin and across the country contributed to the violence and destruction unleashed at the U.S. Capitol two years ago today. We’ve seen how fragile our democracy can be. Only with truth and political courage can we preserve our freedoms for future generations.”