NFHA Denounces Pro-Trump Insurrection at U.S. Capitol and Calls for Removal of President Trump
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 8, 2021
Contact: Izzy Woodruff | 202-898-1661 | IWoodruff@nationalfairhousing.org
NFHA Denounces Pro-Trump Insurrection at U.S. Capitol and Calls for Removal of President Trump
Washington, D.C. — Lisa Rice, President and CEO of the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA), issued the following statement about the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol:
“NFHA is deeply appalled by and condemns Wednesday’s violent, illegal attempt to undermine U.S. democracy. The individuals who stormed the seat of our nation’s legislative branch were driven to do so by the President’s lies and racist and incendiary statements, which for years have fueled conspiracy theories and fanned the flames of hatred and division. Even in the midst of the violence on January 6 that has so far left five people dead, injured many others, and instilled terror in members of Congress, President Trump continued to double down on his dangerous and false rhetoric. Trump violated the oath he took as President, did not protect the American people or defend the Constitution, and urged an extremist mob to fight to overturn the election. He has also urged his followers to disrupt and thwart the peaceful transition of power.
“We were relieved to see Members of Congress reconvene Wednesday evening through the early hours of January 7 to complete certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s win. But that is not enough. In fact, 147 Republicans voted to overturn the election results. For too long, certain elected officials and members of the Trump administration acted as enablers to Trump rather than defenders of our democracy, often fueling Trump’s efforts to embolden white supremacists, eviscerate America’s civil rights protections, leave hundreds of thousands to die from a global pandemic, and now incite a coup. Everyone who violated our nation’s laws must be held accountable, and that accountability must start with President Trump. In addition, NFHA calls for an examination of why the law enforcement response to the Black Lives Matter peaceful protests last summer was vastly out of proportion to the law enforcement response on Wednesday to the mostly white insurrectionists who invaded the Capitol.
“For the sake of this country and the safety of all Americans, we implore Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment and immediately remove President Trump from office. At the same time, Congress must immediately begin impeachment proceedings. We must send the message to the world that the kind of illegal and dangerous behavior Trump displayed is not without consequence. If we fail to do so, there is no telling what kind of violence might take place in the weeks, months, and years ahead by those who have been emboldened over the past four years to choose hate over peace and justice.”
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About The National Fair Housing Alliance
Founded in 1988, NFHA is a consortium of more than 200 private, nonprofit fair housing organizations and state and local civil rights agencies from throughout the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., NFHA works to eliminate housing discrimination and ensure equal housing opportunity for all people through leadership, education, outreach, membership services, public policy initiatives, community development, advocacy, and enforcement.