The Siege of the United States Capitol
President Stephens shares a message of hope in light of this attack on democracy.
January 6, 2021
Dear members of the Mount Holyoke community,
Today we bore witness to an armed insurrection and siege of the Capitol by an enraged mob in an attempt both to violate the Constitution and to delegitimize American democracy, the electoral process and its outcome. Continuing claims of electoral fraud fueled this violence and the belief that a legitimate outcome could be overturned. My sincere hope, tonight, is that Congress will complete the Constitutionally-mandated business that it gathered to conduct today, and that there will be a peaceful transition of power; that the authority of the Constitution will be upheld, along with the will of the people, the importance of evidence and facts, and this nation's democratic principles. I hope, too, that these events can help us bridge divisions in a shared commitment to democracy, truth, and justice for all. May Mount Holyoke forever defend these democratic values and continue to be a beacon of knowledge and of hope.
Sonya