Reflecting citizens’ deep concern over threats to our democracy, people across the U.S. will rally in observance of the two-year mark since the attack on the U.S. Capitol that aimed to prevent a peaceful transfer of power. A candlelight rally in Chapel Hill will be one of more than 100 events nationwide, including 9 in North Carolina, to push for accountability for Jan. 6 and to urge adoption of reforms to prevent a recurrence of such events.
The candlelight vigil and speakers’ program, organized by the League of Women Voters of Orange, Durham, and Chatham Counties with support from other local organizations committed to democracy, includes calls to action from state and federal elected officials.
Participants will convene at 5:30 p.m. at the corner of Franklin and Columbia streets for a candlelit vigil. They will then march to the University United Methodist Church at 150 E. Franklin Street where speakers will address the community. Confirmed speakers include newly-elected State Reps. Allen Buansi and Renee Price and Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (via a specially recorded message from Washington).
The event organizers are calling on our elected leaders to hold those responsible for the attempted insurrection to account and to adopt democracy reforms at the state and federal level to protect our freedom to vote, to preserve our constitutional rights, and to ensure that we do not witness a repeat of the tragic events of January 6, 2021.
As we reach the two-year anniversary of the attempted insurrection, those responsible have still not been held accountable. Progress has been made in bringing them to justice, but we must see the process through. Nationally, the January 6 Committee’s report identifies numerous crimes and calls for reforms as well as prosecution of those responsible.
In NC, at least 23 individuals have been charged with crimes relating to participation in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, according to Spectrum News. Five of them have already been tried and sentenced to terms of up to three years; others have pled guilty or are
still awaiting trial.
