RSI’s Governance Program Supports the Capitol Hill Community

The violence at the Capitol last Wednesday was appalling to all of us who value civil discourse and respect institutions and procedural norms. We share in the anger and frustration felt by so many in our society. It is critical that an exhaustive investigation takes place and those who engaged in violence, trespassing and other crimes are prosecuted in accordance with the appropriate legal statutes.

At this time, we also believe it is critically important to share our support for all the people affected in the Capitol Hill community. News coverage in the wake of last week’s domestic terrorism has tended to overlook the very real human impact of the events on the mental health of Hill staff, workers, interns, police, families and others struggling to deal with the aftermath of the attack.

We stand with all members of the Capitol Hill community, and encourage seeking out appropriate counseling and therapy resources when necessary and appropriate. For those who are unsure where to turn, please reach out to us; we are glad to assist in this way. It is natural in these moments to have conflicting feelings of anger, resentment and helplessness, and we believe efforts should be made so that anyone who wants or needs support is able to receive it.

What happened on Jan. 6, 2021 was not just a political attack on our democracy—it was a personal attack on the men and women who do the important work in the Capitol day in and day out. In these times, it is important to vent and to work to understand, so that we may ultimately achieve reconciliation and peace.

In the coming weeks and months, we will encourage a more structured response, and believe that any commission or study group established to investigate the events of last Wednesday should include multiple members of staff and support from the Capitol Hill community.

We all stand with you; we value the many ways in which your daily work is critical to the functioning of our democracy and we are ready to support in any way possible.