Grassroots nonprofit organizations gathered outside the Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse for a vigil to commemorate the first anniversary of the insurrection at the Capitol on Jan. 6.
“One year ago today we all witnessed an attempted coup, an attempt at overthrowing the democratic processes of this country,” said Kelly Lopes of the Long Beach Resister Sisters.
Spurred on after a speech by former President Donald Trump, rioters stormed the United States Capitol Building under the false impression that Trump had only lost the election due to political fraud.
“There was a line crossed and we’re just all here together again for solidarity and community healing,” said vigil attendee Chandarney Lim, who also noted that one year ago she was “surprised but at the same time not that surprised” to see the attempted coup unfold.
During the insurrection, multiple media outlets showed rioters scaling the walls around the Capitol, breaking into the building, and wandering throughout the inside while some waved Confederate flags.
“What died that day, for a lot of us, was our faith and our trust in free and fair elections and that the wishes of voters would be carried out,” Lopes said. “We’ve got to get that back.”
The importance of voting and the democratic process was reiterated throughout the vigil.
“People should be more involved in their local politics in their city, their county, their state, ultimately because [everybody] only pays attention mostly to the national elections,” Jay Falconer of Our Revolution Long Beach told the Signal Tribune.
Voter registration forms were available at the vigil and activists encouraged the public to exercise their right to vote.
“I see all of you here today and I see a reawakening and a re-commitment to actively taking back and reclaiming democracy for our nation,” Lopes said.
