Speaking of “insurrection” and railing against the “mayhem” during “tragic hours” at the Capitol on Jan. 6, President Joe Biden effusively praised police work during a White House ceremony to thank the officers who responded to the riots that day.
“These were tragic hours back then — you stood in the breach. You did your duty — a duty to defend the Constitution,” Biden said before signing legislation in the White House Rose Garden on Thursday to award the Jan. 6 responders Congressional Gold Medals for their service. “Police officer is not what you do. It’s who you are.”
“Each time you put on that shield in the morning and get ready to show up for work, your families wonder whether they’re going to get a call that day — a call they don’t want to receive,” Biden continued. “We can’t allow the heroism of these officers to be forgotten.”
GEORGIA REPUBLICAN SEEKS TO ‘RE-FUND’ POLICE AMID PUBLIC CONCERNS ABOUT BIDEN’S HANDLING OF CRIME
With crime surging in cities across the country, Biden has sought to distance himself from Democrats who call for “defunding” the police. Instead, he has urged cities to draw from the coronavirus spending package to boost precinct funding.
Biden said last month that claims Democrats are “anti-police” are unfounded, while those who suggest this are “lying.”
“I don’t know any community, particularly the communities that are in the most need and the poorest and the most at risk, that don’t want police. They want police, though, to look at them as equals. They want police to treat them in that way,” Biden said.
“The president has been crystal clear that he opposes defunding the police,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters.
The issue remains a political liability for the president and Democrats as the 2022 midterm elections approach.
Biden slammed the pro-Trump rioters who attacked the officers on Jan. 6 and called for answers.
“A mob of extremists and terrorists launched a violent and deadly assault on the people’s house and the sacred ritual to certify free and fair election,” Biden said. “It wasn’t dissent. It wasn’t debate. It wasn’t democracy. It was insurrection. It was riot and mayhem.”
He added: “The tragedy of that day deserves the truth. … We have to understand what happened.”
Officers responding to the events on Jan. 6 were beaten and injured while attempting to stop rioters from entering the Capitol building. Four testified last week that they suffered extensive physical and mental trauma.
D.C. Metropolitan Police Officer Daniel Hodges recounted being crushed between two doors as one protester attempted to gouge out his right eye. The people who overran the Capitol were “terrorists,” he told the House select committee formed to investigate the events of Jan. 6 during the first meeting last week.
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In remarks before Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris recounted her “absolute shock” during the attack as lawmakers sought cover.
“These officers are heroes, and these officers are patriots,” she said.
The medals will be held in four locations: the Capitol Police headquarters, the Metropolitan Police Department, U.S. Capitol, and Smithsonian Institution.
