January 6th was particularly painful for American citizens whom, like me, came as refugees from countries (Venezuela in my case), where authoritarian leaders confiscated the right to vote, as the first step to install oppression.
As a Congressman, back in my days in Venezuela, I was in the Chambers several times, when mobs, like those we saw today in DC, surrounded the Capitol, sometimes came inside, and on occasions assaulted me among other members of Congress (The National Assembly). All that happened following the rhetoric of division and violence from Chávez. Those mobs also targeted me and my family and attempted against our integrity in different ways a few times. What we witnessed today in DC is exactly the same.
In 2016 I campaigned with Latino Victory for Hillary Clinton warning Americans that Trump was a “caudillo” in the making, and that his pretense was to create a dangerous political faction in the U.S. like Chavismo was for Venezuela, but from the opposite ideological extreme, with the same script, because extremes meet one another. Many times during this year, again with Latino Victory, while proudly campaigning and advocating for our President Elect Joe Biden I argued this parallels.
While in sorrow and pain, I found hope after the speech from the President elect, and the strength of institutions. But make no mistake, Trump and his efforts during the past couple of months and today, are unfortunately lasting. We need healing leadership. I am confident the Biden-Harris administration, along with Democrats in control of The House and the Senate, will provide such leadership.
But looking forward, and expecting the justice system to handle this week’s atrocities, we have a lot of work ahead of us, in the midst of an awful pandemic with it’s socioeconomic implications. For that purpose, we are hopeful since the Biden Harris administration has finally announced all its cabinet nominees with a diversity which truly reflects America, ensuring there will be no blind spots in policy making and implementation.
A historical groundbreaking record of 4 Latinos, with one Latina among them, are now in the cabinet and in key roles for the current context: Xavier Becerra, Secretary of Health and Human Services; Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security; Miguel Cardona, Secretary of Education; and Isabel Guzmán as the Director of the Small Business Administration (a cabinet level agency).
On the other hand, and in a final note, the state of Georgia spoke in a historical run-offs election sending Reverend Raphael Warnock, the first African American (and the Pastor of Martin Luther King’s Church), and Jon Ossoff, the first Jewish American, to represent the Peach State in the Upper Chamber of Congress, and ensure control of the Senate to the incoming Biden-Harris, and the Democrats, administration. This situation provides clear mandate to Joe Biden, and would help advance bold changes in the critical first two years of the administration. Together with this diverse slate from Georgia, Vice President’s Kamala Harris seat in the Senate has been filled until the next election, with another historical appointment by Gavin Newsom the governor of California, his choice: Alex Padilla. The former Secretary of State of California will be the first Latino son of Mexican immigrants to seat in the U.S. Senate for the State of California.
Yes, Trump lead a seditious attack over the U.S. Congress that took place on January 6th is terrible, lasting and certainly a scar in the face of our beautiful democracy, which demands justice and accountability. But the prospects coming out of the tensions we are leaving are also promising, configuring a government of the people, by the people and for the people which is a true reflection of one of America’s strengths: it’s diversity.