Today, Joseph Biden was inaugurated as the 46^th President of the United States, ending the Trump Administration. NJ Citizen Action releases the following statement:

Phyllis Salowe-Kaye, New Jersey Citizen Action Executive Director:

“Today is an important first step in the next stage of American history and democracy. In the past four years the former President and his party rammed through an agenda of cruelty and oppression, and would have joyfully buried our democracy if but for the resilience of our institutions and election officials. After four years of historic levels of organizing, the American people soundly rejected Donald Trump and the GOP. There is not enough thanks and appreciation for the activists and people on the ground working to save our country. Everyone who contacted their representatives, marched in the streets, knocked on doors, got out the vote. Today is because of you.

As we still reel from January 6th, there is much work to be done. The conditions that enabled Trump’s ascension still exist today. Political leaders who undermine democracy for the sake of power remain influential. With one hand they sacrifice the wellbeing of their constituents to corporate profits, and with the other hand blame the suffering they cause on people of color and leftist bogeymen. As long as this continues and these wounds remain open, fascism will still be a clear and present danger. All of these challenges in the midst of a global pandemic.

President Biden comes into office facing an unprecedented challenge, with countless wounds and harmful policies that need remedying. More than ever, we must stay active and engaged at every level of government. Our nation is confronting multiple concurrent existential threats, from far-right authoritarianism to economic and racial inequality to climate change. Let us rejoice that Americans voted for compassion, equality, and science over cruelty, lies, and violence. Today we celebrate a bright future on the horizon, tomorrow we begin the work to make that future a reality.”

New Jersey Citizen Action is a statewide advocacy and social service organization that advocates for social, racial and economic justice for all while also meeting the pressing needs of low and moderate income New Jerseyans through education and direct service.