A Note from the Chair - January 6, 2024
Three years ago today, a group of insurrectionists stormed our nation’s Capitol building with the intent of disrupting Congress’ proceeding to certify the election of 2020. Most of us were shocked at the scenes of violence unfolding, and still more shocked at the physical and emotional trauma sustained by officers of the Capitol Police who defended the temple of our democracy that day. The thought that our elections - a sacred institution in our republic - could be so blatantly and overtly disrupted was to many of us unthinkable at the time1. And the fact that a sitting president would actively encourage and fail to suppress the insurrection for almost four hours contributed to the horror we felt on that day and as we learned more about the events through the January 6 hearings in Congress.
Speaking for myself, I knew that day that merely doing what I’d been doing to help elect Democrats was no longer sufficient, and I resolved that day to do more. For me, that meant putting myself out as a candidate for the Democratic Central Committee - I thought then and continue to believe that I could help us build a movement here in Harford County that would not merely oppose the trends of authoritarianism that has gripped part of the electorate, but would provide an alternative, effective approach to governing that would keep the voters at the center of the conversation. I am grateful to the Democratic voters of this county to have been entrusted with helping to build this party in Harford County.
As we move into the 2024 election year - perhaps one of the most important in our Nation’s history - I encourage each of you to harness your commitment to the principles of democracy by finding a way, no matter how small, to get involved. The HCDCC will be working together with the Harford Democratic Club and other aligned organizations to register voters, mobilize volunteers, get out the vote for Democratic candidates. In addition, we will be building our own organization that will help Democrats in Harford County in future elections, most notably in 2026.
I invite you to spread the word, share the link to our mailing list with anyone and everyone you know. We have about 529 subscribers right now, which is a small fraction of the 69,000 registered Democrats in the County. And stay tuned here and on our social media channels for volunteer opportunities, Democratic Party events, and news about Harford County’s Democratic Delegates and Senator during this year’s legislative session, as they work on our behalf in Annapolis!
You are the Democratic Party of Harford County – help build the future we want!
I’ll note that overturning of an election by means of insurrection is not unprecedented in US history - see in particular the racially motivated 1898 coup in Wilmington, NC which demonstrates the need to teach the accurate and unvarnished history of our Nation in our schools!