Democracy Matters - Episode 90: Saving Democracy
News
SUMMARY: In this episode, we talk with Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn, JMU Health Sciences ‘05, about his experiences fighting for democracy on January 6, 2021. “These people were minutes, seconds, feet away from hanging the Vice President. Just sit with that,” says Officer Dunn.
On January 6, 2021, a joint session of the U.S. Congress met to certify the electoral votes from the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Some members of the House of Representatives and the Senate challenged the votes from several states. As the two chambers convened separately to consider the first of these challenges, a violent mob stormed the Capitol, overwhelmed Capitol Police, broke into offices, destroyed property, and threatened the lives of Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Mike Pence. The mob conducted this action with the support of President Donald Trump, who repeatedly claimed that there was widespread election fraud despite no evidence to back the claims. Five people died during the violent insurrection.
In this episode, we talk with Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn, JMU Health Sciences ‘05, about his experiences fighting for democracy on January 6, 2021. “These people were minutes, seconds, feet away from hanging the Vice President. Just sit with that,” says Officer Dunn. He is speaking out for justice and accountability because, “People are trying to rewrite history right in front of us...Terrorism is what they did that day. In my mind, they’re coming back. We have to hold them accountable.”
Links in this episode:
- Harry A. Dunn Written Testimony for House select committee hearing about the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, July 2021
- Washington Post January 6, 2021 Interactive
- Furious Flower Poetry Center
