WASHINGTON — After President Donald Trump’s seditious rhetoric prompted insurrectionists to storm the U.S. Capitol, in a last-ditch attempt to stop Congress from certifying that President-elect Joe Biden won the election, the National Education Association is calling for Trump’s immediate removal from office.
NEA President Becky Pringle released the following statement late Thursday:
“Our nation is based on a promise that every single person — Black, Latino/a/x, Asian, Native, White, regardless of wealth — can pursue a better tomorrow. That promise is in jeopardy because President Donald Trump and his allies refuse to accept the will of the people and have endangered Americans and American democracy.
“To protect our democracy and ensure the safety of our nation, the National Education Association is calling for the immediate removal of Donald Trump from the office of the president. Yesterday wasn’t the first heinous and anti-democratic act of violence directed by the current president and his allies, and it won’t be the last if he isn’t removed from office now.
“The American people rejected the intimidation, dysfunction and injustice of this president. His response was to incite insurrection, endangering the lives of Republican, Independent, and Democratic elected officials and their staff. The resulting loss of life, the destruction of federal property, and an unknown level of breach of information security was all done against the backdrop of President Trump refusing to authorize the National Guard to deploy and stamp out this seditious attack.
“Restoring our national security and safety of our democracy requires our leaders to take swift action consistent with our constitution — the law of our land. We should immediately heed the calls by both Democratic and Republican officials to remove President Trump from office, so our new leaders can get back to work on addressing the priorities of the people that elected them — COVID relief, racial justice, and a quality public education for all Americans, no matter who they are or where they live.
“Our children are witnessing the promise of American democracy unravel before their eyes — and they’re paying attention. They are seeing the blatant inequities in the treatment of violent insurrectionists who, protected by white privilege, were able to carry out this violent seditious act. And they are seeing a president who instigated that violence and who has fomented racial division from his first days in office face no consequences other than stern rhetoric, or worse, submissive silence.
“Our students are watching what we do next to protect our country, and it is our duty as educators to fight to protect our democracy and a nation that is always seeking to create a more perfect union of the people, by the people, and for the people.”
NEA president reacts to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ resignation
U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has submitted her resignation, making her the second Cabinet member to resign over President Trump’s response to the attack at the U.S. Capitol.
The following statement can be attributed to NEA President Pringle:
“Resigning 13 days before the end of this administration does nothing to erase the harm Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has done to this country’s students, their families, and educators. She has failed our students yet again when they needed her most. Her complicity, cowardice, and complete incompetence will be her legacy.
“The 3 million members of the National Education Association are looking ahead to working with the Biden-Harris administration and Education Secretary-designate Miguel Cardona to make sure that we undo the damage done by the Trump administration. We will build a new public education system to ensure it is one where all students — no matter who they are or where they live — have access and opportunity to a racially just and high-quality education.”