Vigil for Democracy (A Day of Remembrance and Action)

Thursday, January 6, 2022, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM (CST) 

RUN OF THE EVENT

Throughout the virtual rally, specifically beginning at 6:06 PM, the moderator, Jaden Jefferson, will introduce speakers and keep the event running smoothly.

Mushtaq Darabu​-Representing the Muslim Community in…Crystal Lake, Illinois 

Dianne Pulsipher​-Houston, Texas

Why are we here tonight? 

Dianne Pulsipher 

 No matter our color, background, or party, most of us believe that people who betray our nation and endanger our lives have no business governing in our name. 

Dianne Pulsipher 

 On January 6, armed right-wing militants attacked our Capitol and tried to overturn the results of the 2020 election, and a faction of elected officials turned their backs on America by trying to block an investigation to cover up their role in this deadly violence. 

Dianne Pulsipher 

January 6 was a violent and deadly attack against all Americans – against our country, our democracy, and our freedom as voters to choose the leaders that represent us so that we have a government of, by, and for the people. 

Dianne Pulsipher 

The attacks continue. One year later, the same faction that attacked our country on January 6th is hard at work silencing our voices by restricting our freedom to vote, attacking fair voting districts, and quietly preparing future attempts to sabotage free and fair elections and with it our democracy. 

Dianne Pulsipher 

Mounting evidence shows that some elected leaders aided in planning January 6th. These same lawmakers are continuing to spread daily lies about the validity of the 2020 election to keep their supporters engaged and enraged, which has led to continued death threats and violence against public officials and private citizens.

Mushtaq Darabu

The important investigative work of the January 6th Select Committee must continue so that our elected officials and the public understand what happened on January 6th and prevent future attacks on the peaceful transfer of power. The work of the committee has been fast and effective to date. 

Mushtaq Darabu 

 The January 6th Select Committee has pursued hundreds of interviews, reviewed thousands of pages of documents, and held witnesses refusing to cooperate with its investigation in criminal contempt. The work of the committee has been fast and effective to date and must continue.

Mushtaq Darabu 

 So this January 6, exactly one year later, Americans across race, place, party, and background are holding candlelight vigils to say: In America, the voters decide the outcome of elections. The promise of democracy is not a partisan issue but a calling that unites us as Americans. 

Mushtaq Darabu 

 To prevent this kind of attack from happening again, our elected leaders must pass urgent legislation that will protect this country from anti-democratic forces who are continuing their efforts to destroy it. 

Mushtaq Darabu 

 The January 6th attack by right-wing militants demonstrates the dangers facing our nation and only further underscores the urgency with which we need to transform our political system into one that works for all Americans. 

 Moderated by Jaden Jefferson
 All Attendees will be asked to participate.
 A Call To Remembrance and Action…..Candlelight/Phone light vigil..moment of Reflection 

 Jaden Jefferson: Moment of Remembrance 

 “We encourage you to take a moment of silence to remember the people who were injured and who died defending our Capitol, to remember how close the attempted coup came to succeeding in stopping the counting of the votes, hurting or even killing our elected leaders, how it created long term trauma for those working and living in the ​Capitol, as well as the millions around the country who watched how close the end our American democracy came. “ 

 Jaden Jefferson…Moderator
Introduce the panelists and begin the Roundtable Discussion 

• Group Speakers
  Congressman Sean Casten (Illinois Congressional District 6)
  James Jefferson…………Toledo, Ohio
  Mushtaq Darabu…Muslim Community Member: Crystal Lake 
• Suzanne Parker…Professional Educator…Atlanta, Georgia 

Jaden

Ours is the struggle of a lifetime, or maybe even many lifetimes, and each one of us in every generation must do our part.” 

 Lewis on movement-building in Across That Bridge: A Vision for Change and the Future of America 

The Freedom to Vote Act would limit efforts to retaliate against or replace specific election officials. 
This would address laws passed in states like Texas, which recently made it illegal for an election official to offer a mail-in ballot application to a voter who did not specifically request one. 

The Freedom to Vote Act strengthens legal protections for election workers during the vote counting and certification process. The bill limits poll watchers’ ability to challenge voters which could intimidate voters, slow down the voting process, and stop others from voting. 

 John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, restores 

and strengthens our freedom to vote by making sure that any changes to voting rules that could discriminate against voters based on our race or background are federally reviewed, so we all have an equal say in our future, and our rights are protected. 

 Protecting Our Democracy Act* 

The Protecting Our Democracy Act would ensure that no president is above the law by prohibiting self-serving pardons, preventing presidents from profiting from office, and ensuring presidents can be prosecuted for wrongdoing.
The bill would limit presidential emergency powers, disclose presidential tax returns, and help depoliticize the transition from one president to the next. 

It would protect the Department of Justice from political interference from the White House and defend our elections against foreign interference by enhancing criminal penalties for 

The Freedom to Vote Act bars states from prosecuting election officials for doing their jobs – such as providing a mail-in ballot application to an eligible voter. 

 The Freedom to Vote Act allows voters to ensure their ballot is counted and the election is certified. 

 The Freedom to Vote Act expands penalties for interfering with federal election records and voting equipment – like the tampering we saw in the Arizona sham election review where the voting systems had to be replaced after the insecure sham election review. It would allow AGs to enforce these protections. 

The Freedom To Vote Act would develop new model training and grants to help recruit and train a new generation of election workers. 
The Freedom To Vote Act would put in place election cybersecurity standards, including paper ballots and other voting system upgrades. 
The Freedom to Vote Act would require campaigns to report foreign election interference and contacts. 

 DC Statehood provides equal voice to the residents of Washington DC and ends more than 200 years of taxation without representation. 

• According to Indivisible National, “Due to D.C.’s lack of statehood, the 700,000 Americans who live in D.C. lack equal voting rights compared to their neighbors across the country. 

• In fact, D.C. residents lack a voting representative in the House and have no representation in the Senate at all. The current makeup of our Senate is biased toward white, rural areas. 

• This means that BIPOC and people living in urban areas receive less representation in our Senate — making D.C. a state would begin to counteract this bias.” D.C. statehood is both a critical racial justice and democracy issue — if D.C. is granted statehood, it would be the only state in the nation to have a plurality of Black residents. 

• In addition, two new senators would work to rebalance the Senate from entrenched minority control. Despite overwhelming support in D.C. for statehood, the federal government has so far refused to grant full representation to D.C. residents. 

Jaden Jefferson’s question to the panel. 

 Would you’ll agree that these reforms would help ensure that the White House is a place for serving the interests of the American people, not a place for self-enrichment or handing out “get out of jail free cards” to oneself or others? 

#1 Moment for Action 

Jaden will lead attendees into taking this action. 

Let’s call our Senators, today and every day! 

To keep the Freedom To Vote Act as a priority, along with the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, Protecting Our Democracy Act, DC Statehood, and ending the Filibuster, the 

Senate must take action. They need to hear from their voters – every day. 

Calling your Senator takes about two minutes and it’s an easy way to take action – schedule a time in your phone calendar (maybe at lunchtime?)

 Jaden will lead the panelists in answering questions from the audience.

 All questions must be related to our topics of discussion.
 Recognize a few raised hands….Questions only, no commentary, please.

  Next Steps: Words from Congressman Sean Casten

  Gratitude to Attendees: Moderator /Event Host.
• Closure

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