Sgt. Aquilino Gonell: January 6th was one of the worst days of my life – and I do not want to see it happen again
By Sergeant Aquilino Gonell
We are less than 100 days away from January 6, 2025, but for me, the 2021 insurrection feels like it was yesterday. Most of us could never have imagined that our country’s history would be tainted with the barbarism we witnessed that day. I saw violence and combat while serving in the U.S. Army, but I never thought I’d see such violence and rage while standing guard at our nation’s Capitol. Continued lies from extremists in Congress cannot erase the gravity of what happened on January 6, 2021.
For nearly 5 hours, I was repeatedly struck all over my body, including with stolen police gear, taken from us by the rioters. I was covered in my own blood, fearing for my life. I thought I was going to die that day, trampled by the mob. I was faced with the uncertainty of not knowing if I’d make it home to my wife and my young son. In the aftermath of it all, I’ve undergone multiple surgeries and years of physical therapy. The injuries I sustained have been life-altering and I’ll never be able to fully return to the life I lead before that horrific day.
As we’ve seen these past few months, the stakes could not be higher for this year’s election. After witnessing political violence first-hand and the grave threat it poses to our country, I feel a responsibility to demand that history not repeat itself. January 6, 2025, must be a day of peace, where our election results are certified, and our elected officials do everything in their power to instill confidence and trust in our elections.
Our democracy is too sacred to be destroyed at the hands of anti-American extremists who would rather spread baseless claims about our elections than do their constitutional duties. Ahead of an election that has yet to be decided, extremists in Congress have been pushing the Big Lie, and fear-mongering about non-citizens voting – something that is already illegal. Advancing this lie does nothing but instill bigotry and target immigrant communities.
Immigration and the melting pot of immigrants from around the world is what makes this country a land of opportunity. Immigrants are not a threat to our democracy – political violence and extremism are.
Immigrants and marginalized communities shouldn’t be used as scapegoats for an extreme MAGA agenda. Speaker Johnson and MAGA Republicans using their power and anti-immigrant rhetoric to push voter suppression legislation like the so-called SAVE Act is despicable. Trying to push through crucial government funding legislation that would support Americans across the country is even more deplorable.
Patriotism isn’t targeting non-citizen voting, which is extremely rare; it’s defending democracy from the very real threats of extremism and from the possibility of another January 6.
Less than 100 days from now, all members of Congress, especially the 147 who voted to overturn the 2020 election results, have the chance and duty to fulfill their oath of office and certify the election. It’s up to them to protect our democracy. That is why I sent a letter to Congress alongside my Courage for America council members calling for a peaceful certification of this year’s election results.
MAGA Republicans know that inciting their base to fear non-citizen voting will create higher hurdles to the ballot box – it’s the only way they know how to win. By playing dirty and subjecting immigrants to unnecessary political threats, they’re showing us once again what their priorities are. They don’t actually care about protecting voting rights or defending our election systems – they care about emboldening racist propaganda against immigrants and suppressing the votes of eligible Americans. While MAGA Republicans in Congress may preach about practicing virtuous values, their hypocrisy is evident in their villainization of immigrants and other marginalized communities.
I did my duty nearly four years ago and protected the Capitol from the insurrectionists. No matter the winner of this year’s election, we must uphold the will of the American people. We cannot allow our elections to be compromised with threats of political violence if a desired candidate doesn’t win.
This January 6, 2025, there is absolutely no room for political ploys or extremism. Myself, my fellow officers who defended the Capitol, and every American voter will be watching on January 6, 2025, to see if Congress will uphold and defend our democracy. We must close this dark chapter marred by MAGA extremism. I demand that Congress certify the 2024 election peacefully, and I urge every American to urge their member of Congress to do the same.
Sergeant Aquilino Gonell is a former Capitol Police Officer, US Army veteran, and immigrant from the Dominican Republic who risked his life defending the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Since then, he has testified before Congress about his experience that day and has also published a book titled American Shield: The Immigrant Sergeant Who Defended Democracy.
