Delco leaders call Capitol crisis a “stain” on history
Delaware County leaders publicly condemn the rioting at the U.S. Capitol Wednesday, with one calling it “a stain on our nation’s history.”
“I feel it necessary to publicly condemn that which took place today,” Delaware County Council Chairman Brian Zidek said. “We had a group of people who attacked our nation’s Capitol, who vandalized our nation’s Capitol and in so doing, injured numerous law enforcement officers and resulted in at least one death. History is going to be a harsh judge of today’s events and I also think that history is going to judge the leaders who stood by or, in some instances, actively encouraged people to behave as they behaved today. I think history will judge them very harshly.”
Recognizing that the events are outside of the purview of county council, Zidek said he felt compelled to comment.
“We have to be better than this as Americans,” he said. “We have to be able to put our country above our party. We have to respect the fact that our Constitution, that our democracy and that the rule of law has to be more important than one demagogue who currently occupies the White House.”
Zidek called on political leaders to rely on disagreeing with each other respectfully.
“I hope that our leaders, whether they be members of the Democratic Party or members of the Republican Party, forcefully con
demn that which took place today and we can come to a place where we understand that we can disagree about ideas, we can disagree about what we think policies to be without having to condemn the other person for being evil or being, you know, less than we are,” he said.
Violence is never right, the chairman added.
“This council has consistently supported the right for people to protest,” Zidek said. “It is fundamental to our democracy. It is fundamental to our Constitution ... Violence, no matter what your grievance, is not acceptable ... We’ll wake (today) and begin the healing and begin to move forward as a country but today was a stain on our nation’s history.”
Delaware County Coun
cilwoman Christine Reuther noted the peaceful transition that occurred here in Delco.
“One year ago today there was a peaceful transition in power,” she said, referring to the swearing in of herself and county Councilwomen Dr. Monica Taylor and Elaine Paul Schaefer, all Democrats, after decade of Republican rule. “And, the first real transition in power in the county’s history from one party to another in almost 150 years.”
“Today, I think I have reason not just to be grateful to all of my colleagues on council and to everybody who supported us but to the people who didn’t support us, but still respected the will of the voters and allowed us to take our seats and do our jobs,” she continued.