Kenyatta introduces bill package recognizing Jan. 6 as Democracy Observance Day in Pennsylvania

Philadelphia House Delegation    January 5, 2024 | 2:56 PM

HARRISBURG, Jan. 5 – On the eve of the third anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, raid on the U.S. Capitol Building by domestic terrorists, state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Phila., introduced a legislative package that would recognize Jan. 6 as Democracy Observance Day in Pennsylvania.

“Everyone should remember January 6 as a day that shook our nation and democracy to its core,” Kenyatta said. “We must remember – not forget – what happen that day, why it happened, and the individuals who fed into the lies that led to this dark day in American history.”

Kenyatta’s legislative package includes three bills:

H.R. 287: This would amend the Legal Holiday Law to establish Jan. 6 as Democracy Observance Day in Pennsylvania.

H.B. 1946: This legislation would amend the Banking Code to establish Jan. 6 as Democracy Observance Day in our state.

H.B. 1945: This is a resolution urging Congress to declare Jan. 6 as Democracy Observance Day for Education, Remembrance and Vigilance.

Kenyatta said this legislation would also serve as a reminder of what happens when elected officials feed into claims and opinions rather than facts, and how their actions influence those around them and in their respective communities.

“We had 60-plus – 60-plus – House members sign a letter to throw out Pennsylvania votes. We had top officials explicitly and implicitly embrace the lies that led to violence on that somber day.  People like state Senator Doug Mastriano who literally helped bus people to the riot. Officials like Auditor General Tim DeFoor who refused to say the election was fair. We had colleagues on the other side of the aisle who explicitly embraced lies that led to the January 6 insurrection,” Kenyatta said.

“This happened once, and we must never forget how close we came to losing our democracy and we must do everything in our power to ensure it does not happen again,” Kenyatta said. “Democracy requires something of us. Pennsylvania has a special role as the birthplace of the American dream to preserve, protect and defend it. Democracy Observance Day is about doing just that. I pray these pieces of legislation get speedy consideration.” 

Kenyatta expects this legislative package to be heard in the House chamber in the near future.

Click here to watch additional remarks from Rep. Kenyatta on this bill package.