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After three years of delays, the U.S. Capitol has finally received its first official marker commemorating the January 6, 2021 attack, with the installation of a plaque honoring the law enforcement officers who defended the building.
Workers quietly installed the memorial plaque near the Capitol’s West Front, the site where some of the most intense fighting occurred during the insurrection. The Washington Post first reported the installation, which took place around 4 a.m. EST on Saturday.
“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,” the plaque reads. “Their heroism will never be forgotten.”
The plaque was placed on the Senate side of the hallway after the chamber voted unanimously in January to install it. The move came after House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., had delayed its placement, despite a 2022 law requiring the memorial to be erected within one year.
Senator Thom Tillis, R-N.C., spearheaded the recent effort to install the plaque. Speaking on the Senate floor in January to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the attack, Tillis recounted his memories of hearing rioters break into the building. “We owe them eternal gratitude, and this nation is stronger because of them,” he said of the officers who responded that day.
The violence on January 6 resulted in injuries to more than 140 officers from the U.S. Capitol Police, Metropolitan Police Department, and other agencies. The mob, motivated by then-President Donald Trump’s false claims of a stolen election, temporarily halted the congressional certification of Joe Biden’s victory, forced lawmakers to evacuate, and vandalized the historic building.
The struggle to install the plaque reflects the polarized political climate surrounding the events of January 6. While Trump has characterized the day as a “day of love” and attempted to shift blame for the violence, many Republicans in Congress have minimized or downplayed the severity of the attack.
Democrats, frustrated by the missing memorial, had previously installed replicas outside their offices and called on GOP leadership to fulfill the legal requirement. After more than a year of silence – and a lawsuit from two officers who defended the Capitol – Johnson’s office claimed on January 5 that the statute authorizing the plaque was “not implementable” and proposed alternatives “do not comply.”
This prompted Tillis to take action in the Senate, passing a resolution without objection to place the plaque on the Senate side of the building.
The installation, however, has not fully resolved the controversy. Metropolitan Police Officer Daniel Hodges, who was crushed and beaten by rioters at the west front doors near where the plaque now stands, called the overnight installation a “fine stopgap” but noted it doesn’t fully comply with the original statute.
The 2022 law specified that the plaque should be placed “on” the west front of the Capitol – not near it – and that officers’ names should be listed on the plaque itself. Instead, the installation features a nearby sign with a QR code linking to a 45-page document listing the thousands of officers who responded that day.
“The weight of a judicial ruling would help secure the memorial against future tampering,” Hodges said, confirming that the lawsuit he filed with former U.S. Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn would continue. Their legal action argues that Congress is encouraging a “rewriting of history” by not following the law.
The Justice Department has sought to have the case dismissed, arguing that Congress “already has publicly recognized the service of law enforcement personnel” by approving the plaque.
The memorial’s installation comes at a time when many officers continue to struggle with the physical and psychological impacts of that day. The lawsuit notes that both Hodges and Dunn “live with psychic injuries from that day, compounded by their government’s refusal to recognize their service.”
New York Representative Adriano Espaillat, the top Democrat on the spending committee overseeing the legislative branch, criticized the manner of installation, writing on social media: “Make no mistake: they did this at 4AM so no one would see, no ceremony, no real recognition.”
Representative Joe Morelle, the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee, expressed satisfaction that the plaque was “finally in the Capitol,” adding, “Whether some people like it or not, the record of that day is now part of this building.”
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9 Comments
The plaque is a fitting tribute to the law enforcement personnel who put themselves in harm’s way to protect the Capitol. Their bravery deserves this permanent memorial.
I hope this plaque serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding the rule of law and the peaceful transfer of power, even in the face of violence. Well done to all involved.
The Capitol attack was a dark day in our nation’s history. I’m grateful the officers who responded with such bravery are now receiving this well-deserved recognition.
This plaque is a small but meaningful gesture to recognize the officers who put their lives on the line to protect our democratic institutions. Their actions deserve our utmost respect.
While the delay in installing this plaque is unfortunate, I’m glad it’s now in place to recognize the officers’ courageous actions. Safeguarding our democracy is vital.
It’s troubling that the plaque’s installation was delayed for so long. But I’m glad it’s now in place to honor those who defended the Capitol on that difficult day.
Agreed. Honoring their sacrifice is the least we can do.
While the delay is regrettable, I’m glad the Capitol now has a permanent memorial to the officers who defended it on January 6th. Their heroism must never be forgotten.
It’s good to see the Capitol finally honoring the brave officers who defended it on that tragic day. Their heroism should never be forgotten.