Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. Statement on January 6, Revisited: An attack on Our Democracy!

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA) issued the following statement:

“Five years ago today, our nation witnessed something we never believed possible in a modern American democracy. A violent mob, fueled by deliberate misinformation and incited by the words and actions of a sitting president, stormed the United States Capitol in an effort to overturn a lawful election and halt the peaceful transfer of power. This was not spontaneous outrage. It was the predictable result of months of lies that undermined confidence in our electoral system and encouraged Americans to see one another as enemies rather than fellow citizens.

“The attack left people dead, law enforcement officers injured, and the seat of our democracy desecrated. But the deeper damage was to something less visible and far more fragile: the public’s faith in democracy itself. When leaders normalize falsehoods, attack the legitimacy of elections, and excuse political violence, they weaken the very guardrails that have held this republic together for more than two centuries. History teaches us that democracies rarely collapse all at once. They erode when the rule of law is treated as optional and when power is pursued without regard for truth or consequence.

“Even now, I feel the gravity of January 6 every time I walk through the Capitol. This building is not just marble and stone. It is a symbol of our shared commitment to self-government. To attack it is to attack the idea that in America, leaders are chosen by the people and held accountable by the law.

“January 6 must remain a warning, not a footnote. Defending democracy requires more than remembrance. It demands courage from those in power, honesty from those who lead, and vigilance from all of us. We owe it to future generations to protect free and fair elections, reject political violence in all forms, and reaffirm that no individual is above the Constitution. Our democracy is only as strong as our willingness to defend it, especially when it is tested.”

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