Wellesley College President Statement About Capitol Siege

WELLESLEY, MA — President Paula A. Johnson of Wellesley College made her reflection of Wednesday's siege of the U.S. Capitol Building by Trump-extremists public on Thursday. She focused her reflection on how the day exemplified the fragility of democracy and the duality of our country.

The certification of President-elect Joe Biden's election victory was halted by a mob of rioters supporting President Donald Trump, who for days has fanned the flames of his supporters' fury over his loss. Senators, representatives and Vice President Mike Pence were evacuated from the Capitol Building, which was overrun by people donning Trump flags and gear.

Johnson addressed the more than 2,000 women who attend the liberal arts college in a written statement and said the day showed, "the greatest strengths and most insidious weaknesses of American democracy."

Johnson highlighted not only the violent riots that left four people dead, several injured and the desecration of the Capitol Building, but the Georgia run-off election that led to Georgia's first Black and first Jewish senators.

The statement reads:

"At the urging of President Trump, armed mobs intent on insurrection invaded the Capitol, waving Confederate flags. Meanwhile, in Georgia, Rev. Raphael Warnock, a minister, was elected the state’s first Black senator, and Jon Ossoff, a former investigative journalist, was elected the state’s first Jewish senator, because millions of voters, many of them people of color, insisted on making their voices heard through the ballot box. And late last night, the U.S. Congress reconvened to certify the free and fair results of the 2020 presidential election for President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, which they completed at 4 a.m. today.
Yesterday’s events remind us that our democracy is a precious and fragile gift that cannot be taken for granted. They also serve as a call to action for us, as citizens and as members of an institution of higher education, to continue to promote critical thinking and uphold the values of respect, compassion, and inclusion that are the hallmarks of a liberal arts education.
Our democracy was tested yesterday, and it prevailed. Today, the work to ensure its best days lie ahead belongs to us."

Several Massachusetts representatives as well as Mayor Marty Walsh of Boston have called for President Trump's removal from office.