Rep. Andy Kim (D-Marlton) spent part of the evening following Trump supporters’ Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol picking up trash.
Images of the unassuming congressman, sworn into his second term just days earlier, quickly spread across social media. Pictured was Kim, kneeling with a trash bag in hand, wearing a blue suit.
That suit, purchased less than a month before the attempt to stop the certification of President Joe Biden’s electoral victory, is poised to become a little piece of history after a request from the Smithsonian Museum.
Kim hopes the coming display will tell a different story than the one told by images of a riotous mob and broken glass that circulated on social media in the attack’s aftermath.
“The story of that day wasn’t just destruction. There was hope and resilience. The Capitol Police were heroes that saved lives. Colleagues and staff showed bravery,” Kim said on Twitter. “I hope those stories are told. They help tell a story of light on one of the darkest days in our democracy.”
In the weeks and months since the attacks, congressional Republicans’ initial fury has simmered down. They’ve railed against a Democratic push for investigations into the assault styled after the 9/11 Commission, charging it would be used for Democrats’ political gain, despite supporting such a probe in the immediate aftermath of Jan. 6.
Some have even falsely claimed Trump supporters’ attack was actually a false flag operation orchestrated by antifa and other far left groups.
“Instead of trying to erase history they don’t like after the fact, politicians should just act in a way that doesn’t produce such shameful results,” Kim said. “It’s not hard to not incite or cover up an insurrection.”
Reflection, Kim said, would be a better path forward.
“Patriotism isn’t to think we are infallible; it is to know we make mistakes but to love our nation and one another with care enough to fix the injustices that remain. To know our resilience. To have humility to know that we are a part of something bigger than all of us,” Kim said.