Riots on Capitol Hill: Joe Biden presents medals to “heroes” of democracy











Photo credit © Reuters


Washington (Reuters) – President Joe Biden will commemorate the second anniversary of the attack on the Capitol on Friday at the White House with an award ceremony for “heroes” among law enforcement and political leaders who contributed to democracy that day.

The President will award the “Presidential Citizens Medal” to 12 people and deliver a speech. The ceremony will take place at 2:00 p.m. local time (19:00 GMT).

“These 12 heroes showed courage and selflessness in a time of peril for our nation,” a White House official said.

On January 6, 2021, a crowd of supporters of former Republican President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol, seat of the US Congress, to prevent certification of the results of the presidential election vote, won by Democrat Joe Biden. .

Among those honored are former Arizona House of Representatives Speaker Rusty Bowers and Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who both resisted pressure from Donald Trump to overturn the result of the 2020 presidential election in their state.

Also honored will be Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman, who hijacked the assailants to allow Senate members to evacuate, and Georgia Election Agent Ruby Freeman, who was recently targeted by Donald Trump on social media.

Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who died days after the attack on the Capitol, will receive a medal posthumously.

(Jeff Mason report; French version Jean Rosset, edited by Blandine Hénault)










click here for restrictions
©2023 Reuters



Source link -87