Congress certified President-elect Donald Trump as the winner of the 2024 election in proceedings that unfolded Monday without violence or mayhem, in stark contrast to the Jan. 6, 2021, violence as his mob of supporters stormed the Capitol.

By Alyssa Vega, Globe Staff

Massachusetts congressional Democrats marked four years since the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol on Monday, emphasizing their commitment to protecting democracy.

“Today, as we remember the lives of the fallen and injured officers and their grieving families, we must renew our commitment to safeguarding American democracy,” Representative Katherine Clark said in a statement. “As elected leaders, our loyalty must be to the Constitution, first and always. We are here to honor the will of the people and the rule of law.”

“On this solemn anniversary, I urge my colleagues to remember why we were sent to Washington. While the path ahead may be challenging, we must work together to meet the needs of our constituents and build the future our children deserve,” she added.

As Congress convened to certify President-elect Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, Representative Ayanna Pressley called his upcoming return to the Oval Office “a gut punch.”

“Trump’s return to the highest office in the land, despite his central role in the insurrection, is a gut punch to anyone who cares about our democracy—but it does not absolve us of our responsibility to pursue accountability and continue telling the story of what happened that day,” Pressley said in a statement. “Our Capitol was violently attacked. Police officers lost their lives that day and in the aftermath. So, as we reflect on the anniversary of the January 6th attack and vote to certify the 2024 presidential election, I remain as committed as ever to using every tool at my disposal — legislation, oversight, and mobilization — to do just that.”

“For everyone impacted that day — including the Congressional staff, facilities workers, Capitol Police, members of Congress, and the public writ large — we must never get complacent, never back down in our pursuit of accountability, and never stop working to prevent a damning event like that from ever happening again.” Pressley added.

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Original story HERE.