The Green Party of Virginia (GPVA) condemns the violence that erupted at the Capitol Building today from protestors seeking to overturn the results of the Nov 3rd Presidential election. Nonviolent civil disobedience has formed an important part of many struggles for justice over the years, but violence cannot be allowed to recklessly and egregiously endanger others expressing their first amendment rights nor those being protested.

As we condemn violence, we must condemn its causes. Polarization via the actions and words of President Donald Trump and many of his Republican allies have escalated this situation. We must seek to move past petty partisanship and not fall prey to divide and conquer tactics that pit people against each other for the benefit of the powerful few.

Contrary to the President's claims, while there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud that would have changed the outcome of the election, we must not deny that the election system is flawed when votes are counted on privately owned corporate election machines with proprietary software inaccessible to examination by the people, and there exists widespread legalized voter suppression and disenfranchisement.

The Green Party calls for electoral reforms which must be quick and thorough, including: universal paper ballots with automatic audits, truly nonpartisan and independent district drawing commissions, Ranked Choice Voting, proportional representation, public financing of campaigns, and open debates.

We call on all other political leaders to heed this call and immediately begin the work of restoring a truly representative Republic. Regardless of our political affiliation, we must unite against the corruption of our democracy, and the powerful and wealthy that encourage it, rather than fight each other.