Vigil for Democracy

Indivisible Bainbridge Island and North Kitsap Indivisible will hold a peaceful Vigil for Democracy on the anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the intersection of 305 and Winslow Way from 4 to 6 pm.

It’s nearly a year since thousands of gullible people believed a lie and stormed our nation’s capitol, searching for representatives, senators and even the vice president to kill. As much as some may want to minimize what happened, that is what happened. We all saw it happen.

Since then, we’ve learned more about what the mob wanted: to stop the certification of Joe Biden as the duly elected president. That is, they wanted to overthrow the government. That is, they wanted to effect a coup. And no one wanted it more than the then president of the United States.

Most Americans have not had an opportunity to express their alarm and sorrow for that day, but on the one-year anniversary of that painful day, there is a way: Americans of all races, places, political affiliations and background will hold candlelight vigils for democracy.

We say that in America, democracy matters. Every citizen over the age of 18 must be able to vote easily, every vote must be counted and the count determines the winner.

We say, too, that Sen. Patty Murray and Sen. Maria Cantwell must pass the Freedom to Vote Act, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Protecting Our Democracy Act (all three already passed by the House) to ensure that simple principle is honored in every state of these United States.

Bring your candles, flashlights or phones with the flashlight app or the candle app, and bring signs focusing on the themes of saving our democracy by eliminating the filibuster.

Please wear good facemasks, such as N95 and K95, and socially distance.