Seven California Republican members of Congress must be held accountable for lying to the American people and their role in the insurrection at nation’s Capital.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: press@couragecampaign.org
Los Angeles, Calif., January 14, 2021 – Today, a day after the second Impeachment of President Trump, leaders from Courage California, LA Voice Action, IE United, Communities for a New California Action Fund, and Alliance San Diego Mobilization Fund denounced the white supremacist insurrection at our nation’s capital on January 6 and called for the expulsion of the seven California members of Congress who voted in objection to the certification of the election results.
The GOP Congressmen failed to uphold their oath of office and, instead, used their leadership to unconstitutionally subvert our democracy and disenfranchise voters — particularly people of color — who turned out in record numbers in November for a free, fair, and decisive election.
On a press call, statewide leaders introduced a campaign that calls the congressional members the “Seditious Seven,” due to the members intentionally misleading their constituents, repeating baseless lies about the election, and posing a direct threat to democracy and the American people.
The Seditious Seven, are:
- Rep. Devin Nunes: CD 22, Tulare and Fresno Counties
- Rep. Jay Obernolte: CD 8, San Bernardino County
- Rep. Ken Calvert: CD 42, Riverside County
- Rep. Darrell Issa: CD 50, San Diego County
- Rep. Mike Garcia Los Angeles and Ventura Counties
- Rep. Doug LaMalfa: CD 1, Butte County, Lassen County, Modoc County, Plumas County, Shasta County, Sierra County, Siskiyou County, Tehama County
- Rep. Kevin McCarthy: CD 23, Kern, Tulare and Los Angeles Counties
These Seditious Seven broke their promise to the people of California and the nation.
Statewide leaders issued the following statements:
Communities for a New California Action Fund Founding Executive Director Pablo Rodriguez reminded that claims of voter fraud were repeatedly and resoundingly rejected by our court systems, including the Supreme Court. He added, “As Donald Trump was held accountable and continues to be held accountable, so should the Seditious Seven from California. There have been many lies that have led to the violence and insurrection at the Capital, and many of those lies continue to impact the San Joaquin Valley specifically.”
Michael Gomez Daly, representing Inland Empire United, expressed that the votes from these congressional representatives were un-American.“We elect representatives and they are expected to be an example to the people who they represent. We cannot change the worldview of these treasonous folks but we can call on their colleagues to use everything in their power to hold these folks accountable. These folks are directly undermining the oath of office that they took by advocating for violence against fellow Americans. Their colleagues can show them that their words have consequences.”
Christopher Rice Wilson, Associate Director at Alliance San Diego Mobilization Fund, charged that objecting to the electoral outcomes was undemocratic and laid the foundation for the insurrections. “We are appalled that representatives from California would join and support falsehoods and lies that chip away at the foundation of our democracy. By rejecting the electoral votes of other states without any legitimate basis these legislators acted to disenfranchise voters who participated in the presidential election. They specifically sought to disenfranchise voters of color, especially African-American and Latino voters who turned out in record numbers.” He added that these electoral lies were dangerous, “Their message fueled a mob to engage in a violent insurrection attacking our nation’s Capital and state capitals.”
Tina McKinnor, Civic Engagement Director for LA Voice Action, echoed that the Seditious Seven had broken the sacred covenant of our democracy. “This isn’t about Donald Trump or Joe Biden. This is about white congressmen from rural areas making judgment that an election decided by Black women in Atlanta, Philadelphia and Los Angeles could not be a valid election. All of us were witness to the terrible consequences of their actions: an insurrection at our Capital that killed two police officers and shattered America’s tradition of a peaceful transition of power. Hours later, they chose to side with people who hoisted the Confederate flag over our Capital,” she voiced. “The Seditious Seven have proven with their votes that they don’t believe every vote is equal. They believe that some of our votes are worth more or less than others.”
Irene Kao, Executive Director of Courage California, concluded that the expulsion of the California members of Congress who were complicit in the insurrection is necessary for our democracy. “The Seditious Seven choosing to vote against the election results was a rebuke of their constituents, a dereliction of their duties as officers pledged to uphold the Constitution, a moral failing by leaders in a tumultuous times, and also a part of a larger issue of violent white supremacy that is deeply rooted and now more out in the open in our communities.”
Our democracy and our institutions have worked in the way that they were designed, but the Seditious Seven remain a threat to our nation and continuously work against the well-being of Californians. We cannot afford to let them stay in office for two more years.
These acts of treason cannot become normalized or minimized. Our country can only begin to heal and work towards unity when perpetrators are held accountable and removed from office. To ensure the message is received, Courage California has released Sedition Seven graphics, which will circulate within member districts’, and started a social media campaign.
Listen to press call here.