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President Biden on Friday spotlighted the bravery and service of election workers and law enforcement officials who stood up for democracy around the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol as he marked two years since the insurrection.
He awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal, the country’s second-highest civilian honor, to 14 people, including election workers, state officials and several law enforcement officers who were heralded for their actions in the aftermath of the attack, when rioters descended on the Capitol to try to stop the certification of the 2020 election results. The attack briefly stopped the certification and led to the deaths of multiple law enforcement officers and one civilian who stormed the building.
“History will remember your names, they’ll remember your courage, they’ll remember your bravery, they’ll remember your extraordinary commitments to your fellow Americans,” Biden said at the event.
He noted that all Americans watched the insurrection and continued to do so repeatedly afterwards and also watched the awardees testify before the Jan. 6 House panel. Biden highlighted each honoree individually, and he reiterated his belief that democracy is fragile and must be protected by members of both parties.
“It’s not an exaggeration to say America owes you, owes you all a debt of gratitude,” he said.
Attendees of the event in the East Room of the White House included family members of the recipients, Capitol Police officers and police law enforcement officers from D.C. and Arlington County.
Among the recipients are several Capitol Police officers, former Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers and Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.
