Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Dulcinea

(9,672 posts)
Tue Jan 6, 2026, 04:48 AM Tuesday

This Jan. 6 plaque was made to honor law enforcement. It's nowhere to be found at the Capitol

WASHINGTON (AP) — Approaching the fifth anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, the official plaque honoring the police who defended democracy that day is nowhere to be found.

It’s not on display at the Capitol, as is required by law. Its whereabouts aren’t publicly known, though it’s believed to be in storage.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, has yet to formally unveil the plaque. And the Trump administration’s Department of Justice is seeking to dismiss a police officers’ lawsuit asking that it be displayed as intended. The Architect of the Capitol, which was responsible for obtaining and displaying the plaque, said in light of the federal litigation, it cannot comment.

https://apnews.com/article/capitol-riot-jan-6-anniversary-police-plaque-f6fd39b437c339fa9ff477318a7d36e2

3 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
This Jan. 6 plaque was made to honor law enforcement. It's nowhere to be found at the Capitol (Original Post) Dulcinea Tuesday OP
K & R democrank Tuesday #1
Being used to prop the short leg on Kash Patel's desk. Ol' 1000 yard stare Patel has been quiet since Bogdino "retired". marble falls Tuesday #2
MaddowBlog-On Jan. 6 anniversary, Speaker Johnson rejects plaque to honor police officers LetMyPeopleVote Tuesday #3

democrank

(12,148 posts)
1. K & R
Tue Jan 6, 2026, 07:32 AM
Tuesday

The installation of this important plaque is required by law, but don’t forget…..the law doesn’t apply to Trump.

marble falls

(71,104 posts)
2. Being used to prop the short leg on Kash Patel's desk. Ol' 1000 yard stare Patel has been quiet since Bogdino "retired".
Tue Jan 6, 2026, 09:05 AM
Tuesday

LetMyPeopleVote

(175,007 posts)
3. MaddowBlog-On Jan. 6 anniversary, Speaker Johnson rejects plaque to honor police officers
Tue Jan 6, 2026, 02:42 PM
Tuesday

The GOP leader had plenty of time to come up with an excuse for his refusal. He didn’t come up with much.
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/january-6-anniversary-plaque-mike-johnson

After the Jan. 6 attack, Congress agreed to install a permanent plaque to honor the law enforcement personnel who helped protect the U.S. Capitol against pro-Trump rioters. By statute, the plaque was to be placed on the western side of the building by March 2023 and list the names of those who served.

That deadline lapsed almost three years ago. The plaque is done and ready to be installed, but it’s reportedly sitting in a Capitol basement utility room surrounded by tools and maintenance equipment.

Architect of the Capitol Thomas Austin confirmed during a congressional hearing last year that the only thing standing in the way of installing the plaque is the approval from House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office — approval the Louisiana Republican has not extended for reasons he’s been reluctant to explain. (Austin also needed approval from Senate leaders, which he has already received.)

On the eve of the Jan. 6 anniversary, the House speaker elaborated on his position. The Associated Press reported:

Speaker Johnson’s office said in a statement late Monday the statute authorizing the plaque is ‘not implementable’ and proposed alternatives also ‘do not comply.’

The GOP leader has had quite a bit of time to come up with a coherent explanation for his refusal to honor the officers who protected the Capitol. This, evidently, is what he’s come up with.

Meanwhile, two Jan. 6 police officers, former Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn and current Metropolitan Police Department Officer Daniel Hodges, filed a lawsuit last summer to force congressional leaders to follow the law. Donald Trump’s Justice Department weighed in on the case last month, telling a federal court to reject the litigation, though the case is still pending.

For their part, many congressional Democrats have replicas of the plaque hung outside their Capitol Hill offices. If those same Democrats are in the majority after this year’s midterm elections, no one should be surprised if the real plaque is installed where it’s supposed to be in early 2027.
Latest Discussions»Editorials & Other Articles»This Jan. 6 plaque was ma...