Capitol Unveils Long-Awaited January 6 Memorial Plaque

A new memorial plaque has been installed at the U.S. Capitol to honor the bravery of police officers during the January 6, 2021, insurrection. This significant installation occurred on the morning of a Saturday recently, years after federal law mandated its completion by 2023.

Details of the January 6 Memorial Plaque

The plaque is positioned at the end of a hallway within an entrance on the Capitol’s West Front. This location is not accessible to the public. Its inscription acknowledges the courage of law enforcement officials, stating, “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 features a QR code linked to a file containing the names of responding officers.
• It recognizes several local police departments and federal agencies involved in the response.

Delays and Controversies

Despite its installation, the plaque did not come with any formal unveiling ceremony or remarks. This oversight highlights previous challenges faced by lawmakers and agencies regarding the memorial. House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office had previously claimed that the statute permitting the plaque “is not implementable,” without providing specific reasons for this assertion.

The plaque has been well-received by some lawmakers. Rep. Joe Morelle, the leading Democrat on the House Administration Committee, acknowledged the effort to honor the police who defended the Capitol, stating, “Speaker Johnson may have tried to bury the January 6 plaque, but it’s finally in the Capitol.”

Legal Actions and Ongoing Discussions

Following the events of January 6, two officers from the Capitol Police initiated legal action to ensure a memorial was built. Harry Dunn and Daniel Hodges criticized political figures for attempting to distort the reality of that day. In a message posted on X, Hodges referred to the plaque’s installation as “a fine stopgap,” emphasizing the need for full compliance with the law.

The law, as outlined in their lawsuit, specifies that the plaque should be placed “on the western front” of the Capitol. The January 6 select committee ultimately concluded that former President Trump incited the violence that occurred during the attack.

This installation marks a critical moment in the ongoing dialogue surrounding the legacy of January 6, 2021, and the pivotal role of law enforcement during that tumultuous period.