Hillsborough Town Commissioners Issue Statement Condemning Capitol Building Attack

The Town of Hillsborough’s Board of Commissioners shared a statement Monday condemning the January 6 attack on the Capitol Building in Washington D.C., calling the event a coordinated attack on democracy and constitutional order.

“The Hillsborough Board of Commissioners condemns in the strongest possible terms the assault on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021, and the attempt to delay, discredit or prevent the certification of a free and fair election,” it reads. “White supremacists, anti-Semites, and conspiracy theory devotees were part of the seditious mob that went to the Capitol at the incitement of President [Donald] Trump.”

The group’s statement joins many other local elected officials who spoke out against the insurrection event seen as Congress attempted to ratify the Electoral College votes for the 2020 election, which resulted in Joe Biden winning the presidency. Members of the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro governments shared thoughts on social media, while North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and Orange County’s Congressman David Price both called for Trump to resign for his part in stoking the resulting violence. Five people died from injuries suffered during the attack on the Capitol Building, according to various reports.

“We specifically condemn in the strongest possible terms the president of the United States,” wrote the Board of Commissioners, “for his words and actions that encouraged the violent riot by this mob of his supporters. We also condemn those members of the House and Senate who amplified the same falsehoods promoted by the president, which provided motivation, aid, and comfort to this assault on our democratic process.”

The Hillsborough officials praised the work of security guards and law enforcement who guarded members of Congress during the attack, while also pointing to the disparity between how this group of violent demonstrators were treated compared to peaceful protesters seen in Washington D.C. and across the country this summer. Ultimately, the board said this event should not be put behind the country until more accountability is taken by those responsible for inciting or empowering those who aimed to occupy the Capitol Building.

“We are in a struggle between those who believe in democracy and those who do not, and we must uphold the rule of law, block efforts at voter suppression, and respect the freedom of the press,” wrote the Hillsborough commissioners. “We demand the president be held accountable and immediately resign. If not, we demand that Congress impeach and remove the president and prohibit him from ever holding public office again.”

The Hillsborough Board of Commissioners are set to hold their first business meeting of 2021 Monday night. Their full statement on the events of January 6 can be found here.

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