Five Years Since January 6 Capitol Insurrection, JCPA Demands Action to Confront Growing Danger of Anti-Democratic Extremism

WASHINGTON – As we mark five years since the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) is demanding action to confront increasingly normalized anti-democratic extremism. On this anniversary, the January 6 House Select Committee will reconvene to discuss the ongoing threats to democracy and public safety posed by those responsible for the insurrection and the leaders who continue to advance their conspiracy theories and disinformation.

Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, released the following statement. Spitalnick previously led the successful legal effort to hold accountable the neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and hate groups responsible for the August 2017 Charlottesville violence.

“Five years since the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, political violence and extremism have become even more normalized—threatening our communities and the core of our democracy.

January 6th was a stark demonstration of the real-world consequences of hate, conspiracy theories, and disinformation, including lies about stolen elections and ‘invasion’ and ‘replacement.’ Over the past decade, we’ve seen this extremism move from the fringes to the mainstream, leading to a cycle of deadly violence targeting communities, government officials, political leaders, and our democratic institutions across the country.

Yet many of our leaders not only refuse to confront this threat, but actively fuel it. The conspiracy theories behind January 6th and so many other acts of violence are now being used to justify draconian policies attacking voting rights, immigrants, and more. The administration has issued pardons and commutations for those responsible for the insurrection and appointed avowed extremists to roles within the federal government—all while decimating the very programs designed to protect against domestic extremism. Threats to the rule of law and core civil rights continue to grow, with our communities’ real fears and concerns exploited to undermine our democratic norms and institutions.

This moment demands real action: by civil society to build broad coalitions across deep differences in order to protect our communities and our democracy. By our political leaders on the federal, state, and local levels to truly confront rising hate, disinformation, and extremism.

Even as the loudest voices seek to sow distrust and division, we will continue to work to defend our democratic norms and institutions and the rights and safety of all communities—because we know that our safety as Jews is inextricably linked to the health and vibrancy of our democracy and the rights and safety of all communities, just as a strong democracy requires true Jewish safety.”