while Congress was confirming Joe Biden's win in the presidential election. It took hours for authorities to clear the Capitol building, during which at least four people died.
As news of the attempted coup spread, business leaders across industries — including tech, finance, and healthcare — sent staff memos and issued public statements decrying the violence. Collectively, the messages expressed sadness, outrage, and hope for a better future. Insider reviewed 23 of those memos looking for common themes. Some memos were posted publicly on social media; others were emailed directly to staff and reported in other media outlets. A full list of the companies whose memos we included can be found at the bottom of this article.
Wednesday's events were painful for people from many different communities. Strong CEO statements acknowledge that common pain. As Evans told Insider last summer, companies who want to participate in conversations around social and political issues should start "by being genuine and acknowledging the time we're in." They shouldn't make the situation about them or their special interests, Evans added.