Remarks by Governor Murphy on Yesterday’s Violent Insurrection in Washington, D.C.

January 7, 2021

Remarks as Prepared for Delivery

The fact that we all woke up this morning to the reality of President-elect Joe Biden’s election formalized by the United States Congress is proof that our democracy is stronger than an unhinged mob.

The scene that unfolded yesterday in the Capitol Building will go down as one of the darkest days in our nation’s history. Every insurrectionist who tried to overthrow the free and fair election of President-elect Biden should be identified, arrested, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for desecrating the cradle of American democracy. They should be given no quarter. They are not patriots. They are the antithesis of what it means to be an American. 

This was not a protest. It was an act of domestic terrorism spurred on by the president himself and his minions. 

The president’s refusal to accept the reality that he lost an election created this. His years of lies and willful misinformation created this. His belief that the laws don’t apply to him created this. His spewing of unfounded conspiracy theories created this. His unwillingness to understand even the basic precepts of the Constitution created this.

I am relieved that the members of Congress were all safe and were able to complete their Constitutionally mandated task of counting and formalizing Joe Biden’s election as our 46th President. In two weeks, with his inauguration, the renewal of America will begin in earnest.

I have deployed 500 members of the New Jersey National Guard to Washington, DC, to assist in the peaceful transfer of power from one administration to another. I trust they will represent the highest values of our state and our republic. I wish them well. And I thank Interim Adjutant General Colonel Dr. Lisa Hou and State Police Superintendent Colonel Pat Callahan for their leadership.

Make no mistake, yesterday was no accident. 

It was the result of four years of gaslighting and concerted attempts from within to weaken our democracy. But our democracy proved more resilient than the deranged conspiracy theories.  

And for that, I say, God bless America.