A plaque commemorating law enforcement officers who responded to the January 6, 2021, events at the U.S. Capitol has been installed, three years after a law mandated its display. The plaque's placement follows legislative approval in March 2022, a subsequent lawsuit filed by officers over its absence, and a recent Senate resolution. Its installation occurred amidst ongoing political divisions regarding the event's historical interpretation and a federal lawsuit concerning its original mandated display.
Legislative Mandate and Initial Delays
In March 2022, Congress approved the creation of an honorific plaque as part of a government funding package. The resolution mandated the plaque's installation within one year, near the Capitol's west front, and required it to list the names of all law enforcement officers who responded to the January 6, 2021, events. The deadline for installation was March 2023, but the plaque was not publicly displayed and was understood to be in storage.
House Speaker Mike Johnson had not formally unveiled the plaque. His office stated that the authorizing statute was "not implementable" and that proposed alternatives did not comply with existing law. His office suggested that any commemoration of law enforcement should involve collaboration with appropriate committees to develop a framework for vetting and consideration. The Architect of the Capitol, responsible for the plaque's acquisition and display, declined to comment due to ongoing federal litigation.
Legal Proceedings
In the summer following the plaque's approval, U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn and Metropolitan Police Department Officer Daniel Hodges filed a lawsuit regarding the delay. Their legal claim asserted that the refusal to follow the law encouraged a revision of historical understanding and suggested that the officers were not being properly recognized.
The U.S. Department of Justice sought to dismiss the lawsuit. Arguments presented by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and others contended that Congress had already publicly recognized the service of law enforcement personnel through the plaque's approval, and that its physical display would not resolve issues cited by the officers, such as alleged threats. The department also noted that the plaque was legally required to include the names of approximately 3,600 law enforcement officers involved in the response.
Congressional Responses and Installation
In response to the plaque's initial absence, approximately 100 members of Congress, predominantly Democrats, placed poster-board replicas outside their office doors within the Capitol complex. These replicas bore the inscription:
“On behalf of a grateful Congress, this plaque honors the extraordinary individuals who bravely protected and defended this symbol of democracy on Jan. 6, 2021. Their heroism will never be forgotten.”
Representative Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.), involved in the replica plaque effort, noted the presence of these makeshift plaques as a testament to remembrance.
In January, the Senate unanimously voted to approve the plaque's installation. This action followed a resolution led by Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Alex Padilla (D-CA). The Senate resolution directed the Architect of the Capitol to display the plaque "prominently" in a "publicly accessible" location within the Senate wing until its permanent placement could be arranged. Senator Tillis noted a "technical implementation problem" related to the original mandate's requirement to list individual officers, rather than just agencies.
The plaque has since been installed on the Senate side of a hallway, steps from the Capitol's West Front. Its inscription matches that of the replica plaques. The installed plaque includes a QR code that links to a 45-page document listing thousands of officer names. Officer Daniel Hodges, a plaintiff in the ongoing lawsuit, stated that the current installation is a temporary measure and does not fully comply with the original law, which specified placement directly "on" the west front and the inclusion of officers' names on the plaque itself.
Context of the January 6, 2021, Event
On January 6, 2021, individuals entered the U.S. Capitol after a rally, disrupting the congressional certification of the 2020 presidential election results.
- At least five individuals died in connection with the event and its aftermath, including Ashli Babbitt, who was fatally shot by police.
- Over 140 law enforcement officers sustained injuries.
- Several officers later died, some by suicide.
- Approximately 1,500 individuals were charged in connection with the Capitol event, marking one of the largest federal prosecutions in U.S. history.
- Former President Donald Trump, upon returning to power in January 2025, pardoned all individuals charged in connection with the Capitol event.
Statements regarding the January 6 event have varied among political figures, with descriptions ranging from an "insurrection" to a "day of love." The then-GOP Senate leader described it as an "insurrection," and the then-House GOP leader referred to it as his "saddest day" in Congress. Donald Trump has since characterized the day as a "day of love." Historian Douglas Brinkley has noted a lack of consensus on how January 6 will be viewed in the context of 21st-century U.S. history.
Political Divisions and Commemoration Efforts
The absence of a permanent, bipartisan memorial for January 6 highlights ongoing political divisions. Bipartisan memorial services for the event are no longer held.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) announced that Democrats would reconvene members from the Jan. 6 committee for a hearing to examine what they describe as "ongoing threats to free and fair elections." Republicans, under Speaker Johnson, have established a separate special committee led by Representative Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) to investigate what they term the "full truth" of the events, with a hearing planned for the current month.