Murrysville Democrats hold vigil on anniversary of attack on Capitol, call for federal voting law
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On the one-year anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, Bill Hohlweg of Murrysville said he’s disturbed by the lack of acknowledgement, particularly by the Republican political class, about what happened in Washington, D.C.
“To me it was a disgrace,” Hohlweg said.
Murrysville Export Democratic Club President Michelle McFall agreed.
“It’s an absolutely historic moment where our Capitol was under attack by insurrectionists looking to overturn the fair and accurate results of the U.S. election,” she said. “This is going to be a pillar of election campaigns — Republicans running on the idea that Joe Biden is not the legitimate U.S. president.”
McFall and other Democratic Club members held a brief candlelight Vigil for Democracy on Thursday night outside their headquarters on Route 22 to mark the events of a year ago and to encourage passage of a federal election bill.
About 40 people took part in the vigil on a chilly night as snow began to fall.
No prosecutor, judge or election board in Pennsylvania has raised a concern about widespread fraud in the 2020 election, and courts at all levels across the nation have rejected claims about fraud, irregularities and violations, according to the Associated Press.
Bill Bretz, chairman of the Westmoreland County GOP Committee, did not attend the vigil but said he supports the right to assemble, for vigil attendees as well as those who gathered a year ago in Washington, D.C.
“But I don’t think anyone condones the activities that took place at the Capitol Building,” he said. “That’s clearly beyond the scope of any acceptable conduct.”
Following a rally held by then-President Trump in Washington, in which he urged supporters to “fight like hell” to stop the election certification of Joe Biden, thousands of supporters marched to the U.S. Capitol — where barricades were toppled and police were attacked before many in the crowd breached the building.
More than a dozen Western Pennsylvania residents were among those charged with federal crimes related to their actions at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Justice Department officials are handling those charges, Bretz said.
“If they want to reflect on anything, they should reflect on the policies that the Biden administration has put in place the past 12 months that have put our economy in a tailspin,” he said.
Linda Deere of Murrysville said she is tired of partisan bickering over almost any issue of political significance.
“When people get elected, they’re Republicans or Democrats or whatever. But once they get to Congress, their job is to compromise,” Deere said. “To represent their side, but to come together in the middle. Not to vote this way or that way because of what political party they belong to, but for what’s good for the people.”
Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward, R-Hempfield, who was not present, said the events of Jan. 6, 2021, reflected the divided state of the nation.
“While we continue to have our differences, challenges and debates on the issues across the country and in our commonwealth, our actions as lawmakers in Pennsylvania have and will continue to reflect the will of the people with peace and civility,” she said.
By all accounts, the nation remains deeply divided politically.
A poll by The Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that about 4 in 10 Republicans recall the attack — in which five people died — as extremely or very violent, while 9 in 10 Democrats do.
In the past year, several Republican-led legislatures have passed more-restrictive voting laws, prompting a federal reaction in the form of the Freedom to Vote Act — which would expand voter registration and voting access as well as require post-election audits for federal elections. Election Day would be established as a federal holiday.
McFall advocated for its passage.
“We want people to stand with us, raise a candle, shed some light and help pass the Freedom to Vote Act,” she said. “We want to mark the day with vigil and a call for unity — not just for Democrats but for everyone.”