New Haven Register (Sunday) (New Haven, CT)
Vigil organizer marks anniversary of attack on Capitol
NEW MILFORD — Along with dozens of others, Irene Skrybailo attended a pro-democracy vigil Saturday afternoon at the bandstand on the town green.
The vigil marked the second anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., and “the desecration of the Constitution,” according to Skrybailo, who organized the event.
Five people died as a result of the insurrection at the Capitol, and many were injured, including 138 police officers. Four officers who responded to the attack later ended their own lives.
The local vigil included a moment of silence and a reading of the names of the fallen officers.
“It’s only been two years and it’s almost as if people have just forgotten that police officers died and (many) were injured, not to mention the desecration of the Constitution,” said Skrybailo, who said other rallies took place across the U.S. to remember “the horrible events” of Jan. 6.
Skrybailo organized the vigil as part of Mobilize US, where other events pertaining to the Jan. 6 insurrection, are posted online. The vigil was planned for Friday, Jan. 6, but wet weather led to its postponment.
The online post said the attack on the Capitol was an effort by election deniers to “prevent a
peaceful transfer of power” after Joe Biden was elected president in November 2020.
The events held around the country on the anniversary “push for accountability to prevent future power grabs by
former U.S. President Donald Trump and his allies, and to tell elected leaders to act on a mandate for democracy reforms to protect our freedom to vote,” the online post said.
Skrybailo said many
have forgotten what happened and “it’s a little upsetting.”
“It’s important to take responsibility and acknowledge that authoritarianism and lack of respect for the Constitution is a problem,” said
Skrybailo, who served on New Milford’s Inland Wetlands Committee.
She said her parents were born in Ukraine and emigrated to the U.S. in the 1950s. This was her first time organizing a rally, Skrybailo said.
But she said she helped to organize a protest in June at the town green with New Milford resident Jackie Eaton after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ending the constitutional right to abortion.