Jan. 6, 2022, marked the one-year anniversary of the riot in which a mob of over 2,000 illegally entered the Capitol Building. The attack, which occurred during the counting of Electoral College votes in the 2020 presidential election, led to the arrest of hundreds and the deaths of at least five people.
The attack was organized and carried out by supporters of former President Donald Trump, under the false pretense that the election was “stolen.” In the months before the riot, Trump and his followers made various claims of voter fraud, all of which proved to be unsubstantiated. This culminated in the Save America rally, where various speakers including Trump, further spread the lie of election fraud. During this speech, the former president also encouraged the group to march on the Capitol Building.
“I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard,” Trump said in his speech. There is a belief that this is what incited the violence once the rioters joined the group already forming at the building. This is due to the fact that those who participated in the insurrection made claims such as “we were invited by the President of the United States.”
Once the mob had officially made their way into the Capitol Building, the fatalities soon followed. Benjamin Phillips, officer Brian Sicknick, and Kevin Greeson all died of natural causes during or after the event. Rosanne Boyland was reportedly dragged into the crowd and suffocated, while Ashli Babbitt was shot by federal police while trying to breach a hallway where senators were being escorted to safety.
In the year since the attack, there have been a large number of reports and stories documenting the day and what events lead up to it. The New York Times released their documentary on the topic entitled “Day of Rage” on July 1, 2021. On the same day, the U.S House of Representatives formed the United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack, a group designed to investigate the insurrection.
On Jan. 6, 2022, several events were held in remembrance of the riot. These included a prayer vigil for those who protected the Capitol, personal reflections of both reporters and lawmakers, and a performance of a song from the Broadway musical “Hamilton.” The anniversary made it clear that Jan. 6 will be seen for years to come as a stark reminder of a truly dark time in our nation’s history.
Alex Cutler
Reporter