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As I reflect on last week’s siege on Capitol Hill, I struggle to reconcile these images of babies and families on the front lawn of the Capitol with the violent images that shook this nation to its core. #ThinkBabies
While on the surface, last week’s Capitol siege had nothing to do with babies, in truth, as the future of this nation, babies cannot be separated from these horrifying events.
Where there is violence, babies are affected. Where there is racism and white supremacy, babies are affected. And where democracy is threatened, babies are affected. Not just last week, but every day in America, our future - our babies and their development - are threatened.
The insurrection at the Capitol was just another reminder that America is not yet a country in which all babies and toddlers can thrive, where they can sit on the steps of the Capitol with their families and claim it as the people’s - all people’s - house.
#StrollingThunder brings a family from every state and across the political spectrum to Congress, babies in tow, to meet with their elected leaders to advocate for their young children. We cannot let the traitorous acts of a few crowd out the real meaning of the people’s house.
Still these babies and their families give me hope and purpose. I stand committed to working with advocates and policymakers to make sure that our democracy is strong, that we stand up to white supremacy.
And, ultimately, that each and every one of the babies in these photos, and the 12 million babies across the United States, have what they need to feel safe, to grow strong, and to raise their voices and their votes as active and prepared participants in our evolving democracy.
