Congress’s highest honor recognizes the hundreds of officers who were at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Watch the ceremony expected to start at 10 a.m. Central.
the legislation last year that a medal will be placed at the Smithsonian museum “so all visitors can understand what happened that day.”
Dozens of the officers who fought off the rioters sustained serious injuries. As the mob of Trump’s supporters pushed past them and into the Capitol, police were beaten with American flags and their own guns, dragged down stairs, sprayed with chemicals and trampled and crushed by the crowd. Officers suffered physical wounds, including brain injuries and other lifelong effects, and many struggled to work afterward because they were so traumatized.
At least nine people who were at the Capitol that day died during and after the rioting, including a woman who was shot and killed by police as she tried to break into the House chamber and three other Trump supporters who suffered medical emergencies. Two police officers died by suicide in the days that immediately followed, and a third officer, Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, collapsed and later died after one of the rioters sprayed him with a chemical.
The June 2021 House vote to award the medals won widespread support from both parties. But 21 House Republicans voted against it — lawmakers who had downplayed the violence and stayed loyal to Trump. The Senate passed the legislation by voice vote, with no Republican objections.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Officers Who Defended US Capitol on Jan. 6 Set to Receive Congressional Gold MedalsTop House and Senate leaders will present law enforcement officers who defended the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 with Congressional Gold Medals on Tuesday, awarding them Congress's highest honor nearly two years after they fought with former President Donald Trump’s supporters in a brutal and bloody attack.
Read more »
Officers to receive Congressional Gold Medals over Jan. 6 Capitol riotThe ceremony will come nearly two years after police fought with former President Donald Trump’s supporters in a brutal and bloody attack.
Read more »
Officers who defended Capitol on Jan. 6 to receive Congressional Gold MedalsTop House and Senate leaders will present law enforcement officers who defended the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, with Congressional Gold Medals on Tuesday.
Read more »
Capitol Police chief: Jan. 6 failures 'largely' fixed but extremism threat persistsCapitol Police chief Tom Manger says problems that led to the Jan. 6 riot have been addressed, and he is focusing on expanding field offices to be better prepared for rising threats to congressional members.
Read more »