Dean Esquith’s Statement on the Events of January 6, 2021

January 6, 2021

The consequences of the incendiary language of a defeated lame duck President have now reached true crisis proportions. By refusing to accept the role of the loyal opposition by rejecting the results of a free and fair election and continuously lying about the electoral process, he and his Congressional supporters have given the most anti-democratic and lawless elements in our society permission to violate the Constitution and commit acts of violence. Responsibility for this lawlessness rests squarely with a President and his Congressional supporters who are further undermining the very institutions that they have worked to disable for the past four years. We, as members of the MSU community, should speak out against this unlawful behavior and condemn those who have intentionally encouraged it.

Stephen L. Esquith
Dean, Residential College in the Arts and Humanities
Michigan State University