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On Thursday, President Joe Biden will sign legislation to award four congressional gold medals to the United States Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department for protecting Congress during the 6^th January insurrection. The bill passed by voice vote in the Senate on Tuesday with no objections. There will be 4 medals to be displayed at the Capitol Police headquarters, the Metropolitan Police Department, the US Capitol, and the Smithsonian Institution. The honor will go to members of the Capitol Police and Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department who fought with a mob of hundreds of supporters of former President Donald Trump attempting to overturn his election defeat.

The attack was the worst on the Capitol in 200 years and interrupted the certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s win over Trump. 4 people died that day and Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick collapsed and died afterward of what authorities said were natural causes. 4 police officers have killed themselves since the riots and at least 100 officers were injured. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer delivered his words on the chamber’s floor and said, “Awarding the Congressional Gold Medal is a way to commemorate their sacrifice and make sure that the truth of Jan. 6 is recognized and remembered forever”.

Last month, four police officers who worked to defend the Capitol from the mob of Trump supporters testified at the first hearing before a congressional committee investigating the deadly 6^th January riot. The House of Representatives Committee was formed after Senate Republicans blocked the creation of an independent commission to investigate the attack. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, named the committee’s members. Capitol Police Officer Aquilino Gonell informed House investigators that he could feel himself losing oxygen as he was crushed by rioters as he was defending the Capitol during the 6th January insurrection. Gonell said, “This is how I’m going to die, defending this entrance”. Point to be noted that at least 535 people face charges arising from the riot.