Response to the Insurrection at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021

The violent attempts to disrupt our democratic processes at our US Capitol on January 6 were disturbing and traumatic. The Capitol building is a symbol of our representative government, meant to uphold our cherished values of equality, liberty and justice for all. Yet the insurrection, including the symbols held up during the desecration of the US Capitol, explicit encouragement from a President fueling false conspiracies about the election, and delayed deployment of the National Guard from the Executive Office, was deeply about the racism that courses through this country’s past and present. 

As educators fighting for equity, it is our responsibility to acknowledge this truth: while our nation’s promise may deem all to be equal, we have yet to achieve this promise for all of us. To live up to the promise that our democracy’s laws and institutions hold, we all must do our part to face our past while rebuilding a more just future for ourselves, and for our children.

We appreciate the efforts of the following organizations who have created resources for teachers and families to support honest conversations with children.

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Resources for Educators and Families to Respond
​to the Insurrection

Beyond the Spotlight
Resources for Teachers on the Days After the Attack on the U.S. Capitol
https://beyondthestoplight.com/2021/01/06/resources-for-teachers-on-the-days-after-the-attack-on-the-u-s-capitol/ 

Teaching Tolerance
Leading Conversations After Crisis: Our Advisory Board shared ideas for starting discussions the day after the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/leading-conversations-after-crisis 

Facing History and Ourselves
Responding to the Insurrection at the US Capitol
https://www.facinghistory.org/educator-resources/current-events/responding-insurrection-us-capitol 

National Association of School Psychologists 
Supporting Marginalized Students in the Context of the 2020 Election
Guidance for parents/caregivers: http://bit.ly/39ntkKL and educators: http://bit.ly/35gN2pU

Civics for All 
Compiled list of resources to support teachers in holding conversations with their students following the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/153wtSu6qDFBsJP5VvEiOY6IGXoCSSsJX/view 

Day of Racial Healing
​WK Kellogg Foundation’s National Day of Racial Healing is January 19 at 3pm EST/12pm PST. Their website includes a Conversation Guide and action kits designed for students, teachers, and libraries.