By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

With the start of the 117th Congress this week, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), a senior member of the House Committees on Judiciary, Budget, and Homeland Security, has reaffirmed her quest for legislation that could eventually provide reparations for slavery victims.

On Monday, January 4, 2021, Jackson Lee re-introduced H.R. 40, a bill that would fund a committee to explore whether Black Americans should receive reparations for slavery.

While it does not directly introduce payments, the Commission would study racial inequities and policy solutions.

“In short, the Commission aims to study the impact of slavery and continuing discrimination against African-Americans, resulting directly and indirectly from slavery to segregation to the desegregation process and the present day,” stated Jackson Lee.

The Congresswoman also serves as the Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

“The commission would also make recommendations concerning any form of apology and compensation to begin the long-delayed process of atonement for slavery.”

Under H.R. 40, the Commission would comprise members appointed by the White House and both Congress chambers.

The bill has had increased support with 147 co-sponsors in the House, all Democrats.

Because Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) and Republicans in the Senate have indicated strong opposition to taking the measure up in that Chamber, the Georgia runoff elections count as a huge step toward getting the bill passed.

Two Senate seats are at stake in Georgia, with Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock squaring off against Republicans Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue.

“The impact of slavery and its vestiges continues to affect African Americans and indeed all Americans in communities throughout our nation,” Jackson Lee remarked.

“This legislation is intended to examine the institution of slavery in the colonies and the United States from 1619 to the present, and further recommend appropriate remedies. Since the initial introduction of this legislation, its proponents have made substantial progress in elevating the discussion of reparations and reparatory justice at the national level and joining the mainstream international debate on the issues.”

Jackson Lee noted that some have “tried to deflect” the importance of these conversations by focusing on individual monetary compensation.

“The real issue is whether and how this nation can come to grips with the legacy of slavery that still infects current society. Through legislation, resolutions, news, and litigation, we are moving closer to making more strides in the movement toward reparations,” Jackson Lee said.

The Texas Congresswoman noted that she expects more co-sponsors during the new Congress.

“Today, there are more people at the table — more activists, more scholars, more CEO’s, more state and local officials, and more Members of Congress,” she declared.

“However, despite this progress and the election of the first American President of African descent, the legacy of slavery lingers heavily in this nation. While we have focused on the social effects of slavery and segregation, its continuing economic implications remain largely ignored by mainstream analysis.”

Jackson Lee continued:

“These economic issues are the root cause of many critical issues in the African American community today, such as education, healthcare, and criminal justice policy, including policing practices. The call for reparations represents a commitment to entering a constructive dialogue on the role of slavery and racism in shaping present-day conditions in our community and American society.

“I believe that H.R. 40 is a crucial piece of legislation because it goes beyond exploring the economic implications of slavery and segregation.

“It is a holistic bill in the sense that it seeks to establish a commission to also examine the moral and social implications of slavery.

“In short, the Commission aims to study the impact of slavery and to address continuing disparities in the African American community and discrimination against the African American community, resulting directly and indirectly from slavery to segregation.

“After its study, the Commission would offer proposals concerning the long-term impact of slavery and bring about solutions to these ongoing disparities in the African American Community.”

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

With the pandemic badly hamstringing travel plans for so many people, the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) would like to take Black America on a trip – at least digitally.

Destination: The World.

Until medical science gets a real stranglehold on the coronavirus, we invite you to explore from the safety of your home the many places around the globe that might make your bucket list.

We begin in beautiful Nariobi.

Nairobi is known for exciting activities like Rugby, the iconic Coke Studio Africa music show, and the Storymoja Festival.

Once a year, book lovers gather at the Storymoja festival to enjoy the literary arts.

Coke Studio Africa is the biggest show in all of Africa. It began more than seven years ago and features different music genres and cultures, and artists come from places like Tanzania, Zambia, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Uganda, and South Africa.

Unavoidable in Kenya’s capital city is the famed African safaris – after all, the city lays claim as the continent’s safari capital.

“Kenya remains one of my favorite places to visit on the continent because you get a lot of the Mother Land vibes there,” stated Chandell Stone.

She owns Destination Impact, an African American-owned volunteer travel company that offers service opportunities across the African Diaspora.

“Being in Africa is always powerful and empowering,” noted Stone, who, despite the pandemic, planned to fly out of New York to Africa following her phone conversation with NNPA Newswire.

“I can’t stay away … I love going to Africa,” the globetrotter proclaimed.

A short distance away from Nairobi in nearby Karen, Kenya, people young and old still find the red-colored dirt as fascinating as the banana trees that line the stunning city’s hills.

Workshops housing designers and artists cram busy roads that offer sightly and breathtaking views of the high skies against lush green landscaping and colorful flowers.

According to New York Times Travel Writer Ginanne Brownell Mitic, Karen, Kenya, was named after the Danish writer Karen Blixen, who published works like “Out of Africa” under the pen name Isak Dinesen.

“Karen has become a home to both ex-pats and wealthy Kenyans, with stately villas and a few five-star hotels for travelers who want to be luxuriously situated close to the airports for safari excursions or beach holidays,” Mitic wrote.

“It is also home to some of the city’s most intriguing and exclusive places to shop, for items like statement silver jewelry, hand-carved chairs and locally dyed and sewn fashion.”

In Nairobi, residents can shop at many open-air markets throughout the city, including Maasai Market, Toi Market, City Market Nairobi, and Muthurwa Market.

Maasai Market, located outside the Nairobi Court of Appeals, opens each Saturday and contains an array of African jewelry and sought-after fabric.

Toi Market, located in the Adams Arcade and Ngong Road area, routinely bustles with shoppers who can find items like dresses, skirts, slacks, and jeans.

City Market, which is managed by the Nairobi City Council, is located at the intersection of the busy Market Road and Muindi Mbingu Street.

It features drums, artwork, flowers, meat, fruits, and vegetables.

At Muthurwa Market, located in the Central Business District of the city, the crowded and often noisy retail space offers a range of food items and clothing.

Nairobi also features a “lit” nightlife, Stone and other travel experts exclaimed.

Located in the Kilimani area on the first floor of Galana Plaza, the B Club counts among the most well-known among Nairobi’s residents and visitors. It is known for its charm and exotic ambiance.

Operating in a relatively small space on Lang’ata Road, 1824 Whisky Bar is regularly jammed with partygoers.

It also has the nickname “Sunday School,” because of the club’s excitement on Sundays.

As for food and places to stay, Stone of Destination Impact said delicacies in Kenya won’t disappoint, though she prefers Nigeria’s offerings over Kenya.

Stone also recommends two Black-owned hotels, the Sovereign and Westwood.

The Sovereign is a five-star boutique hotel located in Kisumu within the business district.

The Westwood sits in the Westlands area off Eldama Road and less than an hour from Nairobi’s airport.

It borders Karura Forest, where outdoor diners have a birds-eye view of wild animals, including Sykes monkeys.

“I’m not a hotel person, I think the best experience is at an Airbnb, but the Sovereign and Westwood are good hotels,” Stone declared.

Finally, airfare can be a significant obstacle to visiting anywhere in Africa. But Stone said prices have dramatically decreased.

“A few years ago, it would be $1,500 for a flight out of JFK Airport to Kenya,” she noted. “Now, you can get a flight for $600 or $700. It is worth it. I know I can’t stay away from Africa.”

By Sam P.K. Collins, Washington Informer

On Wednesday, for the first time in 232 years with the inauguration of George Washington, the ascension to power in the U.S. turned violent as hundreds of thousands of Trump supporters stormed the nation’s Capitol, destroying property, causing injuries and inciting fear.

It would take a call to arms of Capitol Police and several other local law enforcement agencies before peace would be restored and the Capitol reclaimed. But one woman, shot by an unidentified shooter as the Capitol was breached, would die several hours later. It has not been announced whether the fatal bullet came from a protestor or police.

But local officials in Maryland and Virginia sent close to 1,000 additional police officers to assist officers already fighting to restore peace in the District.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) imposed a citywide curfew from 6 p.m. Wednesday to 6 a.m. Thursday, prohibiting people, other than essential workers and members of the media, from driving, walking, loitering and conducting other activities in the streets. Metro also shut down service several hours early at 8 p.m. in response to the violence unfolding on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol.

In advance of this week’s protests, the mayor also petitioned the Department of Defense (DOD) to authorize the D.C. National Guard’s protection of the U.S. Capitol. Reports later surfaced that DOD denied that request, which Bowser countered during a Wednesday afternoon press conference.

A Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) spokesperson also confirmed just after the curfew began Wednesday, that on the previous evening, Jan. 5, 10 people were arrested after inciting violence on Black Lives Matter Plaza.

While MPD officers had initially been stationed blocks away from the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, they were later dispatched to assist Capitol police officers and establish a perimeter shortly after Trump supporters breached security. MPD Chief Robert Contee said at least five firearms have been recovered. As of Wednesday evening, authorities arrested at least 13 people, none of whom are District residents.

Bowser and Contee declined to provide specifics about policing tactics but Bowser acknowledged the Maryland and Virginia State Police, along with the police departments of surrounding Montgomery, Prince George’s and Arlington counties as partners in efforts to quell rioting on the Capitol grounds.

“The behavior we’re witnessing is shameful, unpatriotic and unlawful,” she said during the press conference. “Anyone who continues to engage in these activities will be held accountable. There will be law and order. MPD has been deployed to help restore order.”

More than a week before Trump supporters converged on the nation’s capital, a bevy of grassroots organizations, including Black Lives Matter DC (BLM DC) and ShutDownDC, issued warnings to District officials about the impending violence.

BLM DC released a statement demanding that Bowser designate the District as a hate-free city. The group also urged local establishments to not conduct business with the visitors, and requested that city officials prioritize the protection of Black spaces and adherence of COVID-19-related protocols.

The degree to which Bowser and MPD have been able to do that remains questionable, BLM DC Core Organizer Anthony Lorezno Green told The Informer, especially after The Proud Boys and others incited violence against Black people twice before.

“We saw a complete denunciation of white supremacy among residents, ANC commissioners and other community leaders,” Green said. “This is why we wanted District officials to lock down the city in a way that didn’t oppress us and stopped us from enjoying it under the spotlight of a Congress that doesn’t give a damn about our freedom.”

“[We wanted them] to push out these white supremacists the same way they tried to push Black and brown folks off of Black Lives Matter Plaza for months and Georgia Avenue after MPD killed Karon Hylton-Brown. They failed for the third time,” he said.

Building Locked Down as Lawmakers Flee Chambers; D.C. Mayor Orders Curfew

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Thousands of President Donald Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday as Vice President Mike Pence presided over the Electoral College vote.

Carrying Trump banners and American flags and chanting “Stop the Steal,” the protesters blasted their way into the hallowed halls, breaking windows and shoving Capitol police aside as they sought to push the mob back by unleashing pepper spray.

The protesters responded with force, successfully breached the building at several locations.

Once the protesters were inside, security hustled Pence away and members of Congress barricaded themselves in various offices.

Gunshots also rang out in the hallway near the chambers and more windows were shattered throughout the building. An unidentified woman inside was shot in the neck and later died.

The National Guard joined the Secret Service, FBI, Capitol Police and D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department at the scene.

Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered a citywide curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Thursday, ordering all but essential workers off the streets.

Nearby agencies from Virginia and Maryland were also called to assist in quelling the melee.

Del. Jazz Lewis, senior adviser to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland), worked from home Wednesday and didn’t have to travel to the District.

“Unfortunately, my colleagues are all barricaded in the office … for their safety,” said Lewis, who represents Prince George’s County’s 24th District. “I am texting back and forth with them to make sure they are fine. They are good. They are shaking up and scared. No one could have anticipated something like this.”

Lewis said late Reps. John Lewis and Elijah Cummings “would be crying right now. This is absolutely ridiculous.”

Although Lewis supports law enforcement in protecting the city and Capitol building, he said the protests by Trump’s supporters reflect a double standard in America.

“I do believe if this was Black Lives Matter, then people would have been harmed. It’s not fair,” he said. “We need to start taking these groups [like] The Proud Boys and these white supremacist groups and treating them like domestic terrorists. You have no idea how they could escalate a situation.”

Meanwhile, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan posted a notice on Twitter and ordered the state police to assist the Metropolitan Police Department and U.S. Park Police to help with crowd control.

“All Americans should be outraged by this attack on our nation’s Capitol,” Hogan said. “This is a heinous and violent assault on the heart of our democracy. I will not stand for this and neither should any American.”

Prince George’s County police also sent officers on standby to assist D.C. police, said media relations officer Antonia Washington.

“If activated by MPD, we will aid in securing the area for which we were called to assist,” she said.

The protesters were heard frequently chanting, “We took the Capitol.”

Photos and videos of the surreal takeover flooded the internet. A bloodied and critically injured woman was wheeled out of the building, SWAT officers with automatic weapons traversed the halls and authorities reportedly discovered a bomb.

While Trump continued to tweet, President-elect Joe Biden took to television and addressed the nation, condemning the violence and urging Trump to “act like a man.”

“At this hour our democracy is under unprecedented assault unlike anything we’ve seen in modern times,” Biden said, adding that what unfolded was, “an assault on the rule of law like few times we have ever seen it.”

The Democrat added that the uprising was tantamount to sedition.

“The scenes of chaos at the capitol do not reflect a true America, do not represent who we are,” Biden demanded.

“I call on this mob to pull back and allow democracy to go forward,” Biden said. “At their best, the words of a president can inspire; at their worst, they can incite.”

He then called on Trump to “go on national television now” to “demand an end to this siege.”

The president later released a video asking protesters to go home, but still tossed gasoline into the fire.

“I know how you feel, the election was stolen,” Trump said in the video.

His predecessor, Barack Obama, condemned the unrest and excoriated Trump and the Congress members who perpetuated the claims of election fraud.

“History will rightly remember today’s violence at the Capitol, incited by a sitting president who has continued to baselessly lie about the outcome of a lawful election, as a moment of great dishonor and shame for our nation,” Obama said in an issued stated. “But we’d be kidding ourselves if we treated it as a total surprise.

“Right now, Republican leaders have a choice made clear in the desecrated chambers of democracy,” he said. “They can continue down this road and keep stoking the raging fires. Or they can choose reality and take the first steps toward extinguishing the flames. They can choose America.”

The later it became, the more protesters appeared to arrive.

One estimate placed the crowd at about 10,000, while others estimated anywhere between 5,000 and 20,000.

Even after police convinced some of the Trump loyalists to leave the Capitol, a large remnant of the crowd remained hours after the rally, prompting leaders from both sides of the aisle to describe the rioting as an unprecedented attack against American democracy.

“Today’s violence will never change the results of the presidential election, lead to a second term for President Donald Trump, or interfere with the transfer of power to the Biden administration,” officials at the National Task Force on Election Crises wrote in a statement late Wednesday.

“Protest is a fundamental right, violence and mob activity is not — particularly when the goal is to hinder the working of our democratic institutions.”

The situation unfolded during what historically had been a peaceful transfer of power in which the Electoral College votes are certified in a joint session of Congress.

However, just before the joint session, Trump led a rally nearby speaking for well over an hour. At its conclusion, he urged his supporters to express their discontent at the Capitol.

Rudy Giuliani, the president’s lawyer, called for “a trial by combat” against lawmakers who were certifying the Electoral College votes.

“I could never have imagined a day like this,” said Rahm Emanuel, the former chief of staff for President Barack Obama and one-time mayor of Chicago.

“Never could you have imagined seeing the security of the U.S. Congress not only being breached but the lives of members of Congress being threatened like this,” Emanuel remarked during a live interview on ABC News.

After watching African Americans protest the police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and scores of others, many Black communities called law enforcement’s initial response tepid at best.

“So, imagine Black folk was in this mix,” Public Enemy frontman Chuck D remarked.

The “Don’t Believe the Hype” superstar then posted a video of the Capitol’s unrest.

He questioned: “Would they drop a bomb on ’em like Wilson Goode did?”

“As a part of both Million Man Marches in D.C., we aired differences to the world knowing that we were watched,” Chuck D continued.

“A brother didn’t even take a piss on a tree. Yet, all the Nation of Islam and Minister Louis Farrakhan have gotten was grief and misinformation from many factions here in the U.S.A.,” he said.

Tracy Fredericks, one of Chuck’s followers, noted: “We [Black people] would never have made it inside the Capitol Building.”

Morgan Cherry, a District-based political activist, agreed.

“These Trump supporters, who are about 99.9 percent white, have gone where no Black demonstrators could have gone – and ambushed the Capitol Building,” Cherry said.

Dr. Ebony Hilton, a prolific physician at the University of Virginia, asked why there had been no arrests.

“Where are the handcuffs? Where are the arrests? Where is the tear gas?” Dr. Hilton demanded. “Did we use up all of the rubber bullets at the peaceful Black Lives Matter rallies because our Capitol Building is under siege? When are law and order going to show up?”

Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) called on officials to bring in the National Guard to secure the Capitol. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi eventually did just that.

“I’ve never seen anyone be able to breach the Capitol like this,” Bass said. “The president of the United States incited this riot and someone needs to go over to Pennsylvania Avenue and arrest him.”

Staff writers William J. Ford and Dorothy Rowley contributed to this story.

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Hip Hop pioneer Dr. Dre, who first rose to fame in the 1980s with the rap group N.W.A. and later co-founded Death Row Records, has reportedly suffered a brain aneurysm.

The mogul, whose real name is Andre Young, was hospitalized on Monday, January 4, 2021, at Los Angeles’ Cedars Sinai Medical Center.

The celebrity website, T.M.Z., was the first to report the icon’s hospitalization. T.M.Z. cited sources close to Dr. Dre and those with direct knowledge, noting that he was taken directly to I.C.U., where he remained on Tuesday.

Dr. Dre, 55, reportedly is stable and lucid, but doctors haven’t determined what caused his internal bleeding. His physicians are reportedly performing a battery of tests and continue to treat the multiple Grammy Award winner.

Teaming up with Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Yella, MC Ren, the Arabian Prince, and the D.O.C., Dr. Dre formed N.W.A. in 1985.

The group quickly earned a reputation for relaying the reality of South Central Los Angeles’s hard-scrabble streets.

Their sophomore album, “Straight Outta Compton,” went double platinum and cemented N.W.A.’s legacy as gangsta rap’s originators. N.W.A. shined a spotlight on police brutality in the Black community by releasing the famous and controversial song, “F—Tha Police.”

In 1991, Dr. Dre teamed with Marion “Suge” Knight to form Death Row Records, a label where Dre released his seminal album, “The Chronic,” which featured “Nuthin But a ‘G’ Thang with rising star Snoop Dogg.

The icon has become even more famous with his Beats Electronics business, including the popular “Beats By Dre” wireless headphones.

In 2014, Apple purchased Beats Electronics for $3 billion.

Unidentified Woman Shot Inside the Building

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Thousands of President Donald Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday as Vice President Mike Pence presided over the Electoral College vote.

Carrying Trump banners and American flags and chanting “Stop the Steal,” the protestors blasted their way into the hallowed halls, shoving Capitol police who attempted to beat back the mob by unleashing pepper spray.

The protestors pushed back and successfully breached the building at several locations.

Once the protestors were inside, security hustled Pence away, and members barricaded themselves in various offices.

Gunshots also rang out in the hallway near the chambers, and windows were shattered throughout the building. An unidentified woman inside reportedly was shot in the neck. Her condition is currently unclear.

The National Guard joined the Secret Service, FBI, Capitol Police, and D.C.’s Metropolitan Police at the scene.

Nearby agencies from Virginia and Maryland also were called to assist.

The protestors then chanted, “We Took the Capitol.”

The situation unfolded during what historically had been a peaceful transfer of power in which the Electoral College votes are certified in a joint session of Congress.

However, just before the joint-session, Trump led a nearby rally and urged his supporters to show their anger at the Capitol.

The President’s lawyer, Rudy Giuliani called for “a trial by combat” against lawmakers who were certifying the Electoral College votes.

“I could never have imagined a day like this,” Rahm Emanuel, the former chief of staff for President Barack Obama and one-time mayor of Chicago.

“Never could you have imagined seeing the security of the U.S. Congress not only being breached but threatened with their lives like this,” Emanuel remarked during a live interview on ABC News.

After watching African American protests the police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and others, many Black communities called law enforcement’s response tepid at best.

“So imagine Black folk was in this mix,” Public Enemy frontman Chuck D remarked. The “Don’t Believe the Hype” superstar then posted a video of the Capitol’s unrest.

He questioned: “Would they drop a bomb on ’em like Wilson Goode did.”

“As a part of both Million Man Marches in D.C., we aired differences to the world knowing that we were watched,” Chuck D continued.

“A brother didn’t even take a piss on a tree. Yet, all the Nation of Islam and Minister Louis Farrakhan has gotten was grief and misinformation from many factions here in the U.S.A.”

Tracy Fredericks, one of Chuck’s followers, replied: “We [Black people] would never have made it inside the Capitol Building.”

Added Morgan Cherry, a District-based political activist: “These Trump supporters, who are about 99.9 percent white, have gone where no Black demonstrators could have gone. Ambush the Capitol Building.”

Dr. Ebony Hilton, a prolific physician at the University of Virginia, asked why there were no arrests.

“Where are the handcuffs? Where are the arrests? Where is the tear gas?” Dr. Hilton demanded.

“Did we use up all of the rubber bullets at the peaceful Black Lives Matter rallies because our Capitol Building is under siege? When are law and order going to show up?”

Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-Calif.) called on officials to bring in the National Guard to secure the Capitol.  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi eventually did just that.

“I’ve never seen anyone be able to breach the Capitol like this,” Bass stated. “The President of the United States incited this riot, and someone needs to go over to Pennsylvania Avenue and arrest him.”

Wednesday’s violence will never change the results of the presidential election, lead to a second term for President Donald Trump, or interfere with the transfer of power to the Biden Administration, officials at the National Task Force on Election Crises, wrote in a statement late Wednesday.

“Protest is a fundamental right, violence and mob activity is not – particularly when the goal is to hinder the working of our democratic institutions,” the organization stated.

“Attempting to hinder the peaceful transfer of power and deliberations of the U.S. Congress is fundamentally un-American. The Constitution remains the supreme law of the land and clearly lays out the process for counting the electoral votes in the Twelfth Amendment and that the current terms of the President and Vice President unequivocally end at noon on January 20^th,” they continued.

“We must respect the rule of law and law enforcement authorities need to make sure Congress can do its work.”

Meanwhile, militia members gathered around the Georgia Capitol in Atlanta, and breached the Capitol in Topeka, Kansas.

While the protests in Kansas didn’t immediately appear violent, Georgia authorities feared for the safety of secretary of state Brad Raffensperger and his staff.

The secretary of state and his staffers were escorted to safety.

Raffensperger famously recorded a phone call with Trump late last week in which the President attempted to pressure him to overturn the election.

The militia group reportedly included about 25 people, one of them Chester Doles, a longtime white supremacist and member of the Ku Klux Klan.

“We heard reports of threats and left immediately,” Deputy Secretary of State Jordan Fuchs told reporters.

Many prominent African Americans said Black protestors could never have gotten away with what Trump supporters appeared to have pulled off.

“I will say it, because I don’t think a lot of people want to,” Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers stated. “Can you imagine today, if those were all Black people storming the Capitol, and what would have happened? That, to me, is a picture that’s worth a thousand words for all of us to see.”

Police arrested several people and confirmed that a woman who was shot had died.

National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial and National Action Network President Rev. Al Sharpton called upon Pence and Cabinet officers to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove the President from office immediately.

“For the first time in U.S. history, a violent mob is attempting to overthrow the democratically elected federal government, with the encouragement of the man who lost the election,” Morial said.

“The nation cannot endure another two weeks of his illegal and unhinged efforts to maintain power.  If there is a shred of rationality or patriotism left in the Executive Branch, its officers must act in the best interest of the nation and exercise their constitutional duty to remove him.”

Rev. Sharpton added, “There could be no greater proof than the horrifying chaos we are witnessing that President Trump is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.  He has constructed an alternate reality of conspiracy theories and wishful thinking and has deployed a lawless mob to enforce it for him.”

The two civil rights leaders further urged the formal censure of any member of Congress who has promoted fictitious narratives and baseless conspiracy theories about the election.

“It may well be that President Trump believes the fantasies he has woven about his electoral defeat, but his enablers in Congress surely know better, and they must face consequences for the disaster they have wrought,” Rev. Sharpton said.

“Their reckless and craven exploitation of the faith and credulity of Trump’s supporters has led our nation to the brink of collapse,” Morial said. “Patriotism requires that they reverse course, apologize and begin to make amends to the nation they have victimized.