January 4th 2025.
As we step into the hallowed halls of the Capitol, one can hardly believe that this is the same space where a violent insurrection took place just a few years ago. The remnants of that dark day have all but disappeared - the scars on the walls have been painstakingly repaired, shattered windows and doors have been replaced, and there is no trace of any plaque, display, or memorial to remind us of the chaos that ensued.
The attack of January 6, 2021, which shook the very foundations of American democracy, seems to have been swept under the rug. Rarely do lawmakers speak of it, and many Republicans are quick to downplay its significance, echoing the words of then-President Donald Trump who claimed that the violence was exaggerated and that the rioters were actually the victims.
Senator Peter Welch from Vermont expressed his disappointment, stating, "It's been erased. Winners write history and Trump won. And his version is that it was a peaceful gathering. Obviously, this is completely untrue." He also expressed concern over Trump's plans to pardon the rioters, which would only serve to reinforce his distorted version of events.
It's not just the lack of a physical reminder that is concerning. The events of that day seem to have been conveniently forgotten by some lawmakers, who are eager to put it all behind them. However, the reasons for this vary. Former Republican Senator Mike Braun, who left Congress this year and was elected as Indiana's governor, believes that the Justice Department was biased against the rioters. Others simply want to distance themselves from the chaos and move on.
The one thing that was meant to serve as a permanent reminder of that fateful day - a plaque bearing the names of all the officers who bravely responded to the violence - has yet to be installed. In March 2022, Congress passed a law requiring the plaque to be placed on the Capitol's western front, where the worst of the fighting took place. However, almost three years later, there is still no sign of it.
No one seems to know why there has been such a delay, and no one is taking responsibility for it. The Architect of the Capitol has not responded to inquiries, and the House Sergeant at Arms has remained silent. It was reported that Senate leaders Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell, along with House leader Hakeem Jeffries, had approved the plaque, but it is unclear who is ultimately responsible for ensuring its installation. Representative Zoe Lofgren, who led the committee responsible for the law, wrote to House Speaker Mike Johnson in May, asking for an explanation, but she never received a response.
This lack of action is not just a symbol of neglect; it is a blatant disregard for the bravery and sacrifice of the officers who risked their lives to protect the Capitol and its occupants. Officer Daniel Hodges, who was caught in a doorway and crushed by the rioters, expressed his disappointment at the delay in installing the plaque, stating that it is "incredibly offensive" to those who were there.
Representative Joe Morelle, the current top Democrat on the House Administration Committee, believes that the refusal to display the plaque is part of a larger effort to downplay the events of that day and the harm it caused to the Capitol Police force.
It is a sad reality that the insurrection of January 6, 2021, has been all but forgotten by some, as they try to move on and pretend that it never happened. But for those who were there, the memories and scars of that day will never fade, and the lack of acknowledgment only adds insult to their bravery and sacrifice. As we continue to write our history, let us not forget the lessons of the past and the sacrifices made by those who fought to protect our democracy.
As we step inside the Capitol, the scars of the violent insurrection that took place on January 6, 2021, are becoming harder and harder to find. The walls have been repaired, the broken windows and doors replaced, and there is no sign or memorial to remind us of that fateful day. It seems like many lawmakers are hesitant to even acknowledge the attack, and some Republicans are even trying to downplay it, echoing the false claims of then-President Donald Trump that the rioters were actually victims.
In many ways, it feels like the events of January 6 have been erased from our collective memory. Senator Peter Welch of Vermont aptly remarked, "Winners write history and Trump won. And his version is that it was a peaceful gathering. Obviously, completely untrue." If Trump follows through on his promise to pardon the rioters, it would only serve to solidify his distorted version of the truth.
The reality is that over 1,250 individuals were convicted of crimes for their involvement in the insurrection. Some of them even called for the deaths of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Mike Pence as they violently stormed the Capitol, armed with weapons, zip ties, and Confederate flags. Their goal was to stop the certification of President Joe Biden's win, fueled by the baseless claims of a stolen election made by the incumbent Republican.
But despite their efforts, the disruption was only temporary. Congress resumed its work later that evening and fulfilled its constitutional duty. Senator Lisa Murkowski, one of the seven Republicans who voted to convict Trump in his impeachment trial following the attack, described it as a "very, very dark time." And while some lawmakers may want to move on and put it behind them, the reasons for their desire to do so may vary.
Former Senator Mike Braun, a staunch ally of Trump's, suggested that many in the Republican Party feel that the Department of Justice disproportionately targeted the rioters. And for those who were in the Capitol on that day, there is a desire to distance themselves from the events as much as possible. "I think all of us remember it," Braun acknowledged, "But if you're starting to put plaques up, it looks like it further emphasizes the divide on the issue. And maybe the biggest remedy is just to keep moving forward."
However, despite this desire to move on, there is one thing that Congress did do in the aftermath of the insurrection. In March of 2022, they passed a law requiring an "honorific plaque" to be placed on the western front of the Capitol, honoring all of the law enforcement officers who responded to the violence that day. This plaque was meant to be obtained and installed within a year, but almost three years later, it is nowhere to be found.
It's unclear who is responsible for the delay, and inquiries to the Architect of the Capitol referred to the House Sergeant at Arms, who failed to respond. According to a Senate leadership aide, both then-Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and then-Minority Leader Mitch McConnell signed off on the plaque, and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries was also in support. But despite this, the plaque remains absent. Representative Zoe Lofgren, who led the House Administration Committee when the law was enacted, wrote to House Speaker Mike Johnson, questioning why it hadn't been installed yet. She never received a response.
Lofgren expressed her disappointment, saying, "It's not just the plaque, although it does mean something to the officers who were there, but the fact that no one cares about them enough to comply with the law and acknowledge the sacrifice that they made for us and for our country. That service to their country has been disrespected." Representative Joe Morelle, the current top Democrat on the House Administration Committee, believes that the refusal to display the plaque is part of a larger effort to deny the events of January 6 and the harm it caused to the Capitol Police force.
Officer Daniel Hodges, a member of the Metropolitan Police who fought the rioters and was famously seen in a video being crushed in a doorway, expressed his frustration at the delay in installing the plaque, calling it "incredibly offensive." As we move further away from that dark day, it is crucial that we remember and honor the brave officers who risked their lives to protect our democracy. It's time for the plaque that never happened to finally have its place on the Capitol walls.
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