A lone protester demonstrating towards the January 6 attacker stands exterior the Capitol throughout Biden’s speech
Madam Vice President, my fellow Individuals: To state the apparent, one 12 months in the past at this time, on this sacred place, democracy was attacked — merely attacked. The need of the folks was below assault. The Structure — our Structure — confronted the gravest of threats.
Outnumbered and within the face of a brutal assault, the Capitol Police, the D.C. Metropolitan Police Division, the Nationwide Guard, and different courageous legislation enforcement officers saved the rule of legislation.
Our democracy held. We the folks endured. And we the folks prevailed.
For the primary time in our historical past, a president had not simply misplaced an election, he tried to stop the peaceable switch of energy as a violent mob breached the Capitol.
However they failed. They failed.
And on this present day of remembrance, we should make it possible for such an assault by no means, by no means occurs once more.
I am talking to you at this time from Statuary Corridor in the USA Capitol. That is the place the Home of Representatives
met for 50 years within the many years main as much as the Civil Conflict. That is — on this flooring is the place a younger congressman of Illinois, Abraham Lincoln, sat at desk 191.
Above him — above us, over that door main into the Rotunda — is a sculpture depicting Clio, the muse of historical past. In her palms, an open guide wherein she data the occasions happening on this chamber under.
Clio stood watch over this corridor one 12 months in the past at this time, as she has for greater than 200 years. She recorded what befell. The actual historical past. The actual info. The actual fact. The info
and the reality that Vice President Harris simply shared and that you simply and I and the entire world noticed with our personal eyes.
The Bible tells us that we will know the reality, and the reality shall make us free. We will know the reality.
Properly, right here is the God’s fact about January sixth, 2021:
Shut your eyes. Return to that day. What do you see? Rioters rampaging, waving for the primary time inside this Capitol a Accomplice flag that symbolized the trigger to destroy America, to tear us aside.
Even throughout the Civil Conflict, that by no means, ever occurred. However it occurred right here in 2021.
What else do you see? A mob breaking home windows, kicking in doorways, breaching the Capitol. American flags on poles getting used as weapons, as spears. Fireplace extinguishers being thrown on the heads of cops.
A crowd that professes their love for legislation enforcement assaulted these cops, dragged them, sprayed them, stomped on them.
Over 140 cops have been injured.
We have all heard the cops who have been there that day testify to what occurred. One officer referred to as it, quote, a med- — ‘medieval’ battle, and that he was extra afraid that day than he was combating the warfare in Iraq.
They’ve repeatedly requested since that day: How dare anybody — anybody — diminish, belittle, or deny the hell they have been put by means of?
We noticed it with our personal eyes. Rioters menaced these halls, threatening the lifetime of the Speaker of the Home, actually erecting gallows to hold the Vice President of the USA of America.
However what did we not see?
We did not see a former president, who had simply rallied the mob to assault — sitting within the non-public eating room off the Oval Workplace within the White Home, watching all of it on tv and doing nothing for hours as police have been assaulted, lives in danger, and the nation’s capital below siege.
This wasn’t a gaggle of vacationers. This was an armed riot.
They weren’t seeking to uphold the need of the folks. They have been seeking to deny the need of the folks.
They have been seeking to uphold — they weren’t seeking to uphold a free and honest election. They have been seeking to overturn one.
They weren’t seeking to save the reason for America. They have been seeking to subvert the Structure.
This is not about being slowed down up to now. That is about ensuring the previous is not buried.
That is the one manner ahead. That is what nice nations do. They do not bury the reality, they resist it. Appears like hyperbole, however that is the reality: They resist it.
We’re an incredible nation.
My fellow Individuals, in life, there’s fact and,
tragically, there are lies — lies conceived and unfold for revenue and energy.
We have to be completely clear about what’s true and what’s a lie.
And right here is the reality: The previous president of the
United States of America has created and unfold an online of lies in regards to the 2020 election. He is completed so as a result of he values energy over precept, as a result of he sees his personal pursuits as extra necessary than his nation’s pursuits and America’s pursuits, and since his bruised ego issues extra to him than our democracy or our Structure.
He cannot settle for he misplaced, though that is what 93 United States senators, his personal Legal professional Basic, his personal Vice President, governors and state officers in each battleground state have all mentioned: He misplaced.
That is what 81 million of you probably did as you voted for a brand new manner ahead.
He has completed what no president in American historical past — the historical past of this nation — has ever, ever completed: He refused to just accept the outcomes of an election and the need of the American folks.
Whereas some brave women and men within the Republican Celebration are standing towards it, attempting to uphold the ideas of that occasion, too many others are remodeling that occasion into one thing else. They appear now not to wish to be the occasion — the occasion of Lincoln, Eisenhower, Reagan, the Bushes.
However no matter my different disagreements are with Republicans who help the rule of legislation and never the rule of a single man, I’ll all the time search to work along with them to search out shared options the place attainable. As a result of if we now have a shared perception in democracy, then something is feasible — something.
And so, at this second, we should determine: What sort of nation are we going to be?
Are we going to be a nation that accepts political violence as a norm?
Are we going to be a nation the place we enable partisan election officers to overturn the legally expressed will of the folks?
Are we going to be a nation that lives not by the sunshine of the reality however within the shadow of lies?
We can not enable ourselves to be that sort of nation. The way in which ahead is to acknowledge the reality and to reside by it.
The Large Lie being informed by the previous president and lots of Republicans who worry his wrath is that the riot on this nation truly befell on Election Day — November third, 2020.
Take into consideration that. Is that what you thought? Is that what you thought if you voted that day? Collaborating in an riot? Is that what you thought you have been doing? Or did you suppose you have been finishing up your highest obligation as a citizen and voting?
The previous president and his supporters try to rewrite historical past. They need you to see Election Day because the day of riot and the riot that befell right here on January sixth because the true expression of the need of the folks.
Are you able to consider a extra twisted manner to take a look at this nation — to take a look at America? I can not.
This is the reality: The election of 2020 was the best demonstration of democracy within the historical past of this nation.
Extra of you voted in that election than have ever voted in all of American historical past. Over 150 million Individuals went to the polls and voted that day in a pandemic — some at grea- — nice threat to their lives. They need to be applauded, not attacked.
Proper now, in state after state, new legal guidelines are being written — to not shield the vote, however to disclaim it; not solely to suppress the vote, however to subvert it; to not strengthen or shield our democracy, however as a result of the previous president misplaced.
As a substitute of wanting on the election outcomes from 2020 and saying they want new concepts or higher concepts to win extra votes, the previous president and his supporters have determined the one manner for them to win is to suppress your vote and subvert our elections.
It is unsuitable. It is undemocratic. And albeit, it is un-American.
The second Large Lie being informed by the previous President and his supporters is that the outcomes of the election of 2020 cannot be trusted.
The reality is that no election — no election in American historical past has been extra carefully scrutinized or extra fastidiously counted.
Each authorized problem questioning the leads to each courtroom on this nation that might have been made was made and was rejected — typically rejected by Republican-appointed judges, together with judges appointed by the previous president himself, from state courts to the USA Supreme Courtroom.
Recounts have been undertaken in state after state. Georgia — Georgia counted its outcomes thrice, with one recount by hand.
Phony partisan audits have been undertaken lengthy after the election in a number of states. None modified the outcomes. And in a few of them, the irony is the margin of victory truly grew barely.
So, let’s communicate plainly about what occurred in 2020. Even earlier than the primary poll was solid, the previous president
was preemptively sowing doubt in regards to the election outcomes. He constructed his lie over months. It wasn’t primarily based on any info. He was simply in search of an excuse — a pretext — to cowl for the reality.
He isn’t only a former president. He is a defeated former president — defeated by a margin of over 7 million of your votes in a full and free and honest election.
There may be merely zero proof the election outcomes have been inaccurate. In actual fact, in each venue the place proof needed to be produced and an oath to inform the reality needed to be taken, the previous president did not make his case.
Simply take into consideration this: The previous president and his supporters have by no means been capable of clarify how they settle for as correct the opposite election outcomes that befell on November third — the elections for governor, United States Senate, the Home of Representatives — elections wherein they closed the hole within the Home.
They problem none of that. The President’s identify was first, then we went down the road — governors, senators, Home of Representatives. In some way, these outcomes have been correct on the identical poll, however the presidential race was flawed?
And on the identical poll, the identical day, solid by the identical voters.
The one distinction: The previous President did not lose these races; he simply misplaced the one which was his personal.
Lastly, the third Large Lie being informed by a former President and his supporters is that the mob who sought to impose their will by means of violence are the nation’s true patriots.
Is that what you thought if you appeared on the mob ransacking the Capitol, destroying property, actually defecating within the hallways, rifling by means of desks of senators and representatives, looking down members of congress? Patriots? Not in my opinion.
To me, the true patriots have been the greater than 150 [million] Individuals who peacefully expressed their vote on the poll field, the election employees who protected the integrity of the vote, and the heroes who defended this Capitol.
You may’t love your nation solely if you win.
You may’t obey the legislation solely when it is handy.
You may’t be patriotic if you embrace and allow lies.
Those that stormed this Capitol and those that instigated and incited and those that referred to as on them to take action held a dagger on the throat of America — at American democracy.
They did not come right here out of patriotism or precept. They got here right here in rage — not in service of America, however somewhat in service of 1 man.
Those that incited the mob — the true plotters — who have been determined to disclaim the certification of the election and defy the need of the voters.
However their plot was foiled. Congressmen — Democrats and Republicans — stayed. Senators, representatives, employees — they completed their work the Structure demanded. They honored their oath to defend the Structure towards all enemies, international and home.
Look, people, now it is as much as all of us — to ‘We the Folks’ — to face for the rule of legislation, to protect the flame of democracy, to maintain the promise of America alive.
That promise is in danger, focused by the forces that worth brute energy over the sanctity of democracy, worry over hope, private achieve over public good.
Make no mistake about it: We’re residing at an inflection level in historical past.
Each at residence and overseas, we’re engaged anew in a battle between democracy and autocracy, between the aspirations of the numerous and the greed of the few, between the folks’s proper of self-determination and self- — the self-seeking autocrat.
From China to Russia and past, they’re betting that democracy’s days are numbered. They’ve truly informed me democracy is just too sluggish, too slowed down by division to reach at this time’s quickly altering, sophisticated world.
They usually’re betting — they’re betting America will change into extra like them and fewer like us. They’re betting that America is a spot for the autocrat, the dictator, the strongman.
I don’t imagine that. That isn’t who we’re. That isn’t who we now have ever been. And that isn’t who we must always ever, ever be.
Our Founding Fathers, as imperfect as they have been, set in movement an experiment that modified the world — actually modified the world.
Right here in America, the folks would rule, energy could be transferred peacefully — by no means on the tip of a spear or the barrel of a gun.
They usually dedicated to paper an concept that could not reside as much as — they could not reside as much as however an concept that could not be constrained: Sure, in America all individuals are created equal.
We reject the view that in the event you succeed, I fail; in the event you get forward, I fall behind; if I maintain you down, I in some way raise myself up.
The previous President, who lies about this election, and the mob that attacked this Capitol couldn’t be additional away from the core American values.
They wish to rule or they may destroy — destroy what our nation fought for at Lexington and Harmony; at Gettysburg; at Omaha Seaside; Seneca Falls; Selma, Alabama. What — and what we have been combating for: the correct to vote, the correct to control ourselves, the correct to find out our personal future.
And with rights come duties: the accountability to see one another as neighbors — possibly we disagree with that neighbor, however they don’t seem to be an adversary; the accountability to just accept defeat then get again within the enviornment and check out once more the following time to make your case; the accountability to see that America is an concept — an concept that requires vigilant stewardship.
As we stand right here at this time — one 12 months since January sixth, 2021 — the lies that drove the anger and insanity we noticed on this place, they haven’t abated.
So, we now have to be agency, resolute, and unyielding in our protection of the correct to vote and to have that vote counted.
Some have already made the last word sacrifice on this sacred effort.
Jill and I’ve mourned cops on this Capitol Rotunda not as soon as however twice within the wake of January sixth: as soon as to honor Officer Brian Sicknick, who misplaced his life the day after the assault, and a second time to honor Officer Billy Evans, who misplaced his life defending this Capitol as nicely.
We take into consideration the others who misplaced their lives and have been injured and everybody residing with the trauma of that day — from these defending this Capitol to members of Congress in each events and their staffs, to reporters, cafeteria employees, custodial employees, and their households.
Do not child your self: The ache and scars from that day run deep.
I mentioned it many instances and it is no extra true or actual than after we take into consideration the occasions of January sixth: We’re in a battle for the soul of America. A battle that, by the grace of God and the goodness and gracious — and greatness of this nation, we’ll win.
Consider me, I understand how troublesome democracy is. And I am crystal clear in regards to the threats America faces. However I additionally know that our darkest days can result in mild and hope.
From the demise and destruction, because the Vice President referenced, in Pearl Harbor got here the conquer the forces of fascism.
From the brutality of Bloody Sunday on the Edmund Pettus Bridge got here historic voting rights laws.
So, now allow us to step up, write the following chapter in American historical past the place January sixth marks not the top of democracy, however the starting of a renaissance of liberty and honest play.
I didn’t search this combat dropped at this Capitol one 12 months in the past at this time, however I cannot shrink from it both.
I’ll stand on this breach. I’ll defend this nation. And I’ll enable nobody to put a dagger on the throat of our democracy.
We’ll be sure the need of the folks is heard; that the poll prevails, not violence; that authority on this nation will all the time be peacefully transferred.
I imagine the facility of the presidency and the aim is to unite this nation, not divide it; to raise us up, not tear us aside; to be about us — about us, not about ‘me.’
Deep within the coronary heart of America burns a flame lit nearly 250 years in the past — of liberty, freedom, and equality.
This isn’t a land of kings or dictators or autocrats. We’re a nation of legal guidelines; of order, not chaos; of peace, not violence.
Right here in America, the folks rule by means of the poll, and their will prevails.
So, allow us to bear in mind: Collectively, we’re one nation, below God, indivisible; that at this time, tomorrow, and ceaselessly, at our greatest, we’re the USA of America.
God bless you all. Could God shield our troops. And should God bless those that stand watch over our democracy.