FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, January 7
Contact: Logan Smith
[email protected]
202-709-8825
Bend the Arc calls for immediate removal of Trump
Petition also calls for the investigation and possible expulsion of every Republican who violated their oath of office
WASHINGTON – Bend the Arc: Jewish Action released a petition on Thursday calling for the impeachment of Donald Trump for fomenting yesterday’s violent attacks on the U.S. Capitol.
Several Congressional leaders have already called for President Trump’s impeachment, as well as the investigation and possible expulsion of lawmakers who helped incite Wednesday’s violence after a mob of Trump supporters stormed their way into the Capitol brandishing guns, MAGA hats, Nazi symbols, and Confederate flags. Several GOP lawmakers spoke at or promoted the rally that helped spark the violent attacks, as well as spreading lies about the election and voting to disenfranchise 10 million voters in Arizona and Pennsylvania in a desperate attempt to hold onto power.
“This is an attack on our country, on our people, brought on by a president and his imitators who refuse to accept that millions of us turned out in solidarity with each other and elected Joe Biden by overwhelming margins,” said Stosh Cotler, CEO of Bend the Arc: Jewish Action. “This isn’t the first time Trump has incited his followers to violence or fascism, and it may not be the last unless we rise up to hold them all accountable.”
“From Charlottesville to Pittsburgh to Poway to Gilroy to El Paso to the Capitol, we’ve seen this violence play out too many times. Cornered and desperate, Trump is inciting violence and putting all of us in danger by refusing to concede and allow for the peaceful transition of power. We won’t allow our country to be taken over by a right-wing minority who will not observe or abide by democratic practices. Every Republican responsible, from the president to senators, House members to state legislators, who fed, fueled, and fomented these attacks must be removed or resign.”
The demand for Congress to impeach and remove President Trump has already been supported by members of Congress like Sen. Chuck Schumer, Rep. Judy Chu, Rep. Ilhan Omar, and Sen. Ed Markey. And newly-elected Rep. Cori Bush has also called for the investigation and possible expulsion of members of Congress who violated their oath of office by attempting to overturn the election.
In a video addressing the armed militants who had just ransacked the Capitol and disrupted democracy, since deleted by Twitter and Facebook, Trump said: “We love you, you're very special.”
“We have so much damage to repair,” added Cotler. “So many of us are feeling fear, anger, and grief witnessing the white supremacist violence on display yesterday — and for generations. Today, we are holding each other close — and also remembering to celebrate. Our movements have just won historic change, electing the first Black and first Jewish Senators from Georgia. And now we will be able to push a Senate majority to take bold action to make this country a true democracy, where the will of the people determines the actions of our leaders and where our government truly cares for all of us.”
Bend the Arc: Jewish Action is uniting a movement of tens of thousands of progressive Jews across the country who are fighting for justice and equality for all. We are the only national Jewish organization focused exclusively on social change in the United States.
###
