House Democrats push to create public reminder of Jan. 6 riot

House Democrats are rolling out a resolution that would use artifacts from the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol to create a public display commemorating the events of that horrific day. 

A second resolution would honor the dozens of essential workers — including food, maintenance and janitorial workers — who fled for their lives and hid during the assault, then returned hours later to carry out their jobs.

Many of those workers are people of color.     

The two resolutions are authored by Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.), who is serving as the House Democrats’ campaign chairman this cycle.

“The stories of essential workers fleeing for their lives and directly confronting violent insurrectionists are harrowing. Their bravery in the face of this attack requires both our recognition and our gratitude,” Maloney said in a statement to The Hill. “We must not only honor these men and women, but also treat this historical moment with the solemnity and gravity it deserves. 

“In displaying evidence of the mob’s destruction, we create a visual representation for visitors to the Capitol – and Representatives – for years to come,” he continued. “We cannot forget this day, or the actions that provoked this violence. We must remember and learn from our past in order to build a better future.”

The first resolution directs the Architect of the Capitol to preserve evidence of the Jan. 6 attack and work with the House and Senate historians to publicly display it in the building. 

Pieces of shattered glass have already been preserved after a pro-Trump mob — seeking to disrupt Congress’s certification of President Biden’s election victory — broke through windows in order to breach the Capitol. The riot injured 140 police officers and left five people dead, including Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick.

The resolution honoring the workers already has more than 40 co-sponsors, including Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.),  Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.).

“Whereas after the attack ended,” the workers’ resolution reads, “essential staff worked through the evening and late night hours to clean up the aftermath of the destructive mob that ransacked the Complex who left behind broken glass, doors, and signage, trash, and bigoted symbols, as well as the horrific and vile spreading of feces along walls.”