Media Contact:

Jordan Baker
jbaker@frac.org
202-640-1118

Statement attributable to Luis Guardia, president, Food Research & Action Center

WASHINGTON, January 8, 2021 — On Wednesday, we watched in horror, disbelief, and sadness as an angry mob overtook the building most closely associated with American democracy. We are still grappling with multiple emotions and how to move forward.

The degree of response by authorities to the siege of the U.S. Capitol by insurrectionists and terrorists – when compared to the protests after the killing of George Floyd – is yet another stark reminder of the work that still needs to be done to address the racial inequality that for too long has run rampant in our nation. This has led to inequities across the board, from criminal justice and health disparities, to the ability to put food on the table.

For us at FRAC and our anti-hunger network, the Capitol is the place where we seek to advance greater justice through bold policy solutions. As we begin a new year, we look forward to working with Congress and the Biden-Harris administration to strengthen the federal nutrition programs and other proven solutions that help address our nation’s long-standing inequities.

All of us must support and protect our democratic institutions if we are to foster a nation where everyone has the opportunity to lead healthy and meaningful lives.

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For 50 years, the Food Research & Action Center has been the leading national nonprofit organization working to eradicate poverty-related hunger and undernutrition in the United States. To learn more, visit FRAC.org and follow us on Twitter and on Facebook.