AFT-NH Legislative Bulletin, 2021-02
January 10, 2021
Bow, NH
To say the first full week of 2021 was eventful is a gross understatement. The shocking attempt at a coup in Washington DC will be memorialized by historians but should not surprise anyone following politics the past twenty years. Commentary is already flowing fast and furious, and there is little need to add to it. Suffice to say, the attempted coup bears witness to the continued power and stridency of white supremacist thinking and rhetoric and its deep roots in American history and culture. Sadly, lives were lost, including police officer, Brian Sicknick, who died from injuries incurred in the line of duty. Unsurprisingly, Governor Sununu has not ordered flags flown at half-staff in honor of Officer Sicknick. One can only suspect our dear governor is still holding his finger in the air, trying to determine the direction of the political winds before he considers acting or taking a stand in regards to the coup and his party leader, President Trump.
The violence that took place yesterday was absolutely disgusting. Our country is one that operates on the rule of law and belief in that law. When elected leaders threaten to undermine the rule and overturn the will of the American voters, and go on to incite others to violently attempt to overturn the will of the people, our democracy loses all moral standing. The President and his allies in Congress should be ashamed of themselves. The rambunctious MAGA supporters who operated in rebellion to the United States should be ashamed of themselves and most importantly, we as a country should be ashamed of ourselves.