📢 Never Forget: Build People Power to Protect Democracy

🗽 The movement for who we are and what we represent is happening now.

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Jan 07, 2025

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We must never forget the events of January 6, 2021, nor the ominous signs leading up to that dark day. To remember is to honor those who defended democracy and to renew our resolve to safeguard it against future threats. The insurrection did not come without warning—it was the culmination of deliberate actions, dangerous rhetoric, and ignored alarms.

Warnings Ignored

In the weeks before the attack, the warning signs were clear. On November 9, then-President Donald Trump fired Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and replaced him with Christopher C. Miller. This abrupt shift at the Pentagon alarmed many, including CIA Director Gina Haspel, who warned Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, "We are on the way to a right-wing coup."

On January 2, Republican Senator Mitt Romney, no stranger to the peaceful transition of power after conceding his 2012 presidential election loss, contacted Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell with an urgent message. Romney relayed a chilling report from a senior Pentagon official, warning of “very disturbing social media traffic regarding the protests planned on the 6th.” This included calls to smuggle weapons into Washington, burn McConnell’s home, and storm the Capitol. Romney expressed deep concern, noting that the President—who was fomenting the unrest—was also the one commanding reinforcements the Capitol and D.C. police might need.

The alarm bells grew louder. On January 3, all ten living former defense secretaries released an unprecedented open letter. They warned of a potential coup to overturn the election and specifically called out Christopher Miller, urging him and others to uphold their constitutional duties and resist any attempts to undermine democracy.

The US Capitol was attacked by violent rioters

Despite these dire warnings, the attack on the Capitol unfolded with horrifying ferocity. Thousands of rioters, spurred by the “Big Lie” of a stolen election, breached the Capitol, scaling walls, smashing windows, and desecrating the seat of American democracy. Over $30 million in damages scarred the historic building, and the lives of many were forever changed.

Law enforcement officers were met with unspeakable violence—beaten, dragged, and stomped upon. Of the 174 officers assaulted that day, 15 were hospitalized, and some ultimately lost their lives. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick succumbed to two strokes after being pepper-sprayed. The psychological toll was equally devastating, with four officers dying by suicide in the aftermath.

Amid this chaos, rioters chanted threats to "hang Mike Pence" while a bomb was discovered near the location of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, endangering her life and many others. This was not just an attack on a building; it was an attack on democracy itself.

These events were fueled by lies meant to silence the voices of millions of Americans whose votes were legitimately cast. The insurrection was not a spontaneous eruption—it was the result of deliberate actions, inaction, and indifference to escalating threats.

We must never forget this assault on democracy, nor can we ignore the warnings that were ignored. To forget is to invite history to repeat itself. It is our shared responsibility to honor the bravery of those who defended us and to work tirelessly to ensure that the ideals of liberty, justice, and democracy prevail. Only through vigilance and action can we prevent such atrocities from happening again.

I hope you can join us tonight for our special event: Reclaiming People Power: Democracy Starts With Us happening tonight-January 6th at 8pm Eastern, you can grab the zoom link here.

You're invited: Reclaiming People Power: Democracy Starts With Us

Mark the anniversary of January 6th by standing up for democracy and justice. While Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress have failed to uphold their allegiance to the Constitution, we must rise up to protect our rights, freedoms, and future.

This event is more than a remembrance—it's a call to action. Together, we will build a resilient, people-powered movement to resist the threats of fascism and ensure that the voices of everyday Americans—not the wealthy elite—shape our nation’s course.

Let’s organize, educate, and mobilize to defend our communities and democracy. Be part of the change.

Details: 📅 Date: January 6th 🕒 Time: 8 PM Eastern 📍 Location: Via Zoom

RSVP today and bring your voice to the movement!

You're invited: Stop Project 2025

Are you concerned about the direction our country is headed and the far-right agenda threatening our future?

Now is the time to stand up and take action! We invite you to our one-hour training, "Stop Project 2025: Mobilize for Change," presented by People Power United. By joining this training, you'll learn about the real and urgent threat of Project 2025 and why it's essential to mobilize now to stop it. ✨ Join us:

Wednesday, January 15th at 8pm Eastern, click here to signup:

Stop Project 2025 Training

Together, we can protect and empower those we love, champion our rights, freedoms, and democracy, hold our leaders accountable to the people's will, and inspire voters to make a meaningful difference.

Now is the perfect time to reflect and recommit to our values:

✨ Together we can inspire change!

People Power United is a grassroots group of over 200,000+ members in all 50 states-powered by people like YOU. We champion progress and power to the people.

We believe in change because we make change happen.

Here’s what makes us special:
💡 Grassroots energy: No fundraising, no constant emails asking for donations.
📢 Impact through action: We believe in the possibility of change and do the work to make it happen. We don’t just complain, we make change happen!

In this community, we will never stay silent in the face of hate or bigotry. We stand up and speak out against racism, xenophobia, islamophobia, antisemitism, homophobia, misogyny, sexism, ageism, ableism, sizeism, elitism, transphobia, misogynoir, and every form of discrimination that seeks to divide and harm.

We believe:

Everyone deserves dignity —with access to housing, healthcare, and education.
Everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive — regardless of age, race, sex, sexual preference, preferred pronouns, religion, or employment status.
Everyone deserves safety—clean air and water, and communities free from gun violence.

Join us to build People Power! Together, we can protect and empower those we love, champion our rights, freedoms, and democracy, hold our leaders accountable to the people's will, and inspire voters to make a meaningful difference.

The power is in your hands. Let’s fight for freedom over fascism—because our future depends on it.

Join us to build People Power! Together, we can champion our rights, freedoms, and democracy, hold our leaders accountable to the people's will, and inspire voters to make a meaningful difference.

Laurie Woodward Garcia (paid with hugs and kisses, not bought by special interests)

Leader, People Power United

Representing America's largest grassroots organization with over 200,000+ members, driven entirely by the energy and commitment of everyday people. We are proudly 100% independent, powered by people—not special interests.

Laurie joining other activists and organizations to drop thousands of petitions off to Congress for reforms to the Supreme Court

People Power United | In this community, we will always speak out against racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, antisemitism, homophobia, misogyny, sexism, ageism, ableism, sizeism, elitism, transphobia, misogynoir, and bigotry! Check out our 2023 recap post to see how impactful our scrappy People Power United group is!

People Power United is a group of community members that champions progressive values and power for the people.