Ensuring our Democracy Endures: A Response to the Attack on the U.S. Capitol

Head of Middle School Carl Vallely shared the following remarks with Upper School students on Thursday, January 7, 2021.
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As you know, yesterday protestors gathered in Washington, D.C. to protest what they believe was an unfair presidential election, despite no evidence of any widespread voter fraud, as Congress gathered to ratify President-Elect Biden and Vice-President Elect Harris’ win in the Electoral College. While they have the right to gather and protest, this went too far and became an attack on the Capitol Building and the Congress members who serve there. It turned violent; they engaged in terror, people were hurt, and several people died.

 

Today, as we come together at this moment in our nation’s history, I wanted to remind you all that this is not who we are as a nation, and that violence is never the answer. We live in a democracy, where the peaceful transition of power has been a staple of our country for hundreds of years. The behavior displayed yesterday at the Capitol must be condemned at every level as they are not in keeping with the ideals of our democracy.

 

Despite the horrors seen in our nation’s capital yesterday, I am confident that we will walk through this moment together, that our democracy will endure, and that we will emerge from this moment. However, we must also recognize and call out the evils that led to the attack and continue to grapple with how we got to this point.

 

As we do, I ask that we keep our Core Values, especially those of Kindness, Respect, and Equity, at the center of all we do. I am so proud to be a part of a community that uplifts these values. I truly believe all of you are the future and, knowing each of you and the dedicated, thoughtful, kind people you all are, that gives me an incredible amount of hope.