A memorial plaque honoring police officers who battled rioters during the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol has been quietly installed nearly three years after Congress first ordered its creation. The Washington Post initially reported that workers mounted the plaque around 4 a.m. on Saturday near the building's West Front, where some of the most violent clashes unfolded when rioters stormed the complex.
Memorial Honors Officers but Falls Short of Congressional Mandate
The plaque honors law enforcement officers who defended the Capitol during the siege, but notably stops short of listing all those who responded to the violence as Congress originally mandated. The inscription 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.'
Early Morning Installation Draws Democratic Ire
The decision to install the plaque in the early hours has prompted significant criticism from Democrats, who argue the memorial was placed without proper public ceremony or recognition. New York Representative Adriano Espaillat, the top Democrat on the spending panel overseeing the legislative branch, stated the timing suggested congressional leaders wanted to avoid attention.
'Make no mistake: they did this at 4 AM so no one would see, no ceremony, no real recognition,' Espaillat wrote on social media platform X.
Years-Long Congressional Dispute Over Memorial Placement
The plaque's installation follows a protracted dispute in Congress over how and where the memorial should be displayed. Lawmakers passed legislation in 2022 directing that a plaque be installed on the Capitol's West Front within one year, specifically listing the officers who responded to the violence. However, that deadline passed without the memorial appearing, angering Democrats and several officers who fought during the attack.
Earlier this year, North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis pushed through a resolution allowing the plaque to be placed instead on the Senate side of a Capitol hallway. This move followed delays under House Speaker Mike Johnson, whose office had previously stated the law authorizing the plaque was 'not implementable.'
Officers' Lawsuit and Partial Solution
Metropolitan Police officer Daniel Hodges and former US Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn, both of whom responded to the attack, filed a lawsuit over the missing plaque. Hodges, who was crushed against a doorway by rioters during the attack, said the new installation represents only a partial solution.
He called the plaque a 'fine stopgap' but emphasized it does not fully comply with the original law, which required the memorial to be placed on the Capitol's West Front and include officers' names. Instead, the installation includes a nearby sign with a QR code linking to a document listing the thousands of officers who responded that day.
Context of the January 6 Attack
The January 6 attack unfolded as Congress met to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election. Thousands of supporters of then-President Donald Trump gathered in Washington and later surged toward the Capitol, echoing Trump's false claims that the election had been stolen by Democrat Joe Biden.
Rioters forced their way past police barricades and broke into the building, sending lawmakers scrambling for safety and halting the certification of Biden's victory for several hours. More than 140 officers were injured during the violence, and more than 1,500 people were later charged in connection with the attack.
US Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick died the day after the riot after suffering strokes, and four other officers later died by suicide in the months that followed. The plaque installation represents a belated recognition of the law enforcement response to one of the most significant attacks on American democratic institutions in modern history.
