politics

January 6 commemorative plaque appears in Capitol after years of delay

A plaque honoring the heroism of police officers during the January 6, 2021, attack by a mob supportive of President Donald Trump has quietly been installed at the US Capitol after years of delay.

January 6 commemorative plaque appears in Capitol after years of delay

TL;DR

  • A plaque honoring police officers for their actions on January 6, 2021, has been installed at the US Capitol.
  • The installation was delayed for years and occurred quietly without a formal ceremony.
  • The plaque reads, “On behalf of a grateful Congress, this plaque honors the extraordinary individuals who bravely protected and defended this symbol of democracy on January 6, 2021. Their heroism will never be forgotten.”
  • It lists responding police departments and federal agencies and includes a QR code to the names of officers present.
  • The plaque is located on the West Front of the Capitol, in a non-public area.
  • Some Democrats had used poster copies of the plaque in the absence of the official installation.
  • House Speaker Mike Johnson's office had previously stated the law authorizing the plaque was 'not implementable'.
  • Rep. Joe Morelle celebrated the installation, stating it was a hard-fought victory to honor law enforcement.
  • Two officers who defended the Capitol on January 6th have sued the Architect of the Capitol to ensure the memorial's installation.
  • The officers' lawsuit continues, with one officer calling the installation a 'fine stopgap' but seeking further compliance.
  • The law directs the plaque to be placed 'on the western front' of the Capitol.