http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/trump-jan6-attack2.pngOfficers wrap up their two-day tour across Wisconsin to campaign for President Biden.

MADISON - Today, former Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn and Police Officer Daniel Hodges, who defended the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, and witnessed the political violence Donald Trump encouraged firsthand, wrapped up their two-day tour across Wisconsin to campaign for President Biden. At press conferences in Madison, Milwaukee, and Eau Claire, and a stop in Wausau, the officers shared their stories and highlighted the threat Trump poses to our democracy.

The tour comes on the heels of a new Biden-Harris campaign ad reminding voters of the violence Donald Trump inspired when he encouraged his supporters to overthrow the election and stop the peaceful transfer of power. “Burn” reminds Americans that at the behest of Trump, over 140 officers were injured.

Officer Harry Dunn speaking at a press conference in Madison

“Donald Trump continues to encourage and embrace political violence. He’s promised to be a dictator on ‘day one’ and has promised to pardon January 6 rioters. Donald Trump’s failure to denounce the violence on January 6, 2021 is a slap in the face to every officer who put their life on the line that day,” said Officer Daniel Hodges. “Here’s a message for Donald Trump: You can’t call yourself pro-law enforcement when you inflame political violence at every turn. You can’t claim to be on our side and then promise pardons for the violent rioters who assaulted me and my brave colleagues. As a law enforcement officer, I believe he has no place anywhere near the Oval Office.”

“Donald Trump has shown us who he is every day for years. He called the people who attacked our Capitol ‘patriots.’ He called the men and women who died serving and protecting this country ‘suckers’ and ‘losers.’ He constantly echoes the words of dictators and evokes the language of Nazi Germany… We need to take him at his word,” said Officer Harry Dunn. “I know what a bloodbath looks like because I saw one on January 6, and I fear it will be worse if he regains power…Donald Trump is the single greatest threat to the United States of America in a generation. We can’t let him anywhere near the Oval Office again, the choice could not be more clear.”

“So our message today is quite simple. While Donald Trump tries to desperately cry these claims of election fraud, trying to cling onto power, it’s really focusing on him and his authoritative make-believe,” said Wisconsin Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski. “Joe Biden is running to serve all Americans and to protect our democracy. Biden understands that we must put an end to the political violence… That’s why this November, we must reelect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to the White House, because frankly, our democracy depends on it”

State Senator LaTonya Johnson speaking at a press conference in Milwaukee

“While Donald Trump is running a campaign of revenge and retribution, President Biden and Vice President Harris have made protecting democracy a central part of their administration,” said State Senator LaTonya Johnson. “We must send them back to the White House this November. The stakes this November could not be higher.”

Local elected officials with Officers Hodges and Dunn at the press conference in Eau Claire

“I think all of us remember January 6, when we were watching what was unfolding there,” said State Representative Jodi Emerson. “It’s people like this that not only protect us but are protecting our democracy. And I think that’s what is on the line as we go into November. Our actual democracy is on the line.”

“We can’t forget that Donald Trump and his presidency was such chaos…,” said State Senator Jeff Smith. “But these brave officers who stand here behind me today, they are protecting our democracy.”