Dear Neighbor,

One year ago today, we experienced an unprecedented—and until then unimaginable—attack on our country.

On the following day, which felt very much like a continuation of the same day, I wrote to you from that same place where I sit now, sharing my experience as your representative in Washington and as a witness to the attack—someone who experienced it from inside the Capitol building.

As we mark the one-year anniversary, it is important to remember that the attack on the Capitol and the Congress—the representatives of the people—was an attack on all of us, and on our democracy itself.  It is essential that we understand the gravity of what took place, and that we work to make sure it never happens again.

Today, I joined several of my colleagues, many of whom were with me in the House Gallery that day, the last lawmakers evacuated from the Capitol, to observe this solemn anniversary and to share our experiences and reflections one year later.

It was especially meaningful to me to have the opportunity to serve lunch today to the United States Capitol Police officers who saved our lives and to the Capitol staff whose work of all kinds made it possible for us to return to the House Chamber one year ago tonight to fulfill our constitutional duty to certify the results of the presidential election.

Of the many acts of bravery, of heroism, of kindness, of compassion that I remember from that day, I chose to share one particular memory.  You can watch my remarks here:

What I shared was perhaps the most terrifying moment for me during the day, in the moments just before those of us trapped in the House Gallery were able to evacuate, as I watched the door to the hallway open, unsure of who was on the other side.  We had heard the mobs just outside the doors, the shouting, the rattling and banging on the doors, the gunshot right below us.  From where I was peeking over the balcony, I could see people at the doors to the chamber, breaking the glass and threatening those inside.  We couldn’t know all that was happening at that moment—but we knew we were in danger.  And in the moment the doors opened, we could not be absolutely certain who was on the other side.

When the Capitol Police officers who were with us in the Gallery opened the doors, I felt so relieved to see more Capitol Police officers on the other side.  They had secured a path for us out of the Gallery, out of the Capitol, and, we thought, out of danger.  As I walked out of the Gallery I saw immediately to my right, just beyond the stair that was part of our escape route, men lying on the floor, with Capitol Police officers’ guns trained on them so that we could escape:

Capitol police officers stationed themselves along our path, guiding us to safety through the tunnels below ground.  I felt a sense of relief but also a sense of uncertainty, and I found myself trying to say reassuring things to those around me.  As we approached an elevator near our destination, one of the Capitol Police officers looked at me and calmly but clearly said one word that remains etched in my memory: Hurry.

It was clear that we were not, in fact, out of danger.  I am grateful each day to the many Capitol Police officers who faced that danger–who saved our lives that day, saved our Capitol that day, saved our democracy that day.

And I shared this memory today because, while the attack on the Capitol took place one year ago, we are not out of danger.  Our democracy is still under attack.  All of us–every single American–has a role to play in preserving, protecting, and defending it. 

As Americans, we need to come together in this effort, and I still believe we can.  As your representative, I am committed to doing so.