How about a memorial to the people who died, were injured, and victimized in the January 6th insurrection?

I’m not the first person to make this recommendation, and certainly will not be the last. But the January 6th 2021 insurrection, or riots as some would describe them, in particular the numerous law enforcement officers who were injured and the eight people who died in connection with this event, need to memorialized with something more than a year-long House Select Committee, the filing of charges by the Department of Justice, and the conviction of selected participants on seditious conspiracy indictments.

The design, fabrication and installation of a statue, sculpture, or plaque in the US House of Representatives commemorating the people who were injured, died or where killed on Jan 6th is an important undertaking.

Some people, however, may argue that it’s a bad idea erecting a memorial to this event. Or that it depends on certain contextual factors.

Yes, there are other pressing issues in the United States right now like dealing with the remnants of COVID, gun violence, in particular mass shootings in our schools, and climate change.

Critics of this proposal, may suggest that establishing a memorial to the victims of the Jan. 6th insurrection might unnecessarily inflame the MAGA crowd and other right wingers in our country. And we might not want to do this now because tensions are so high.

Many casual observers may also ask, should the memorial include the names of the female Trump supporter who female rioter who was shot by a capital police officer and other rioters who died from heart attacks?

Then again should the memorial be a sculpture, plaque, etc.?

Others may opine that the memorial will be vandalized like the litany of ones that were spray painted, wheat-pasted, stickered, and torn down during the spring of 2020 in the wake of the protests against the death of George Floyd and the black lives matter movement in this country.

Still some individuals may rightfully ask how are we going to fund this memorial?

All of these issues, however, shouldn’t preclude thoughtful discussions regarding the planning and ultimate decision to go forward with a memorial.

Although we might think that someone else’s preoccupation is silly, we are free to pick and choose and devote our energies to whichever cause or interest we like, as long as it’s not unethical, illegal, and if it is not hurting anyone. And the memorial to the people who died, injured or were victimized as a result of the Jan. 6 insurrection fits this category.

The MAGA crowd are going to complain no matter what the current government does. In other words they don’t need much ammunition to complain about all sorts of real and imagined injustices. So funding and erecting a memorial to the victims of the January 6 attacks will simply be one more issue.

Moreover, if the memorial is located inside a secure (sic) building like congress the likelihood that it will be vandalized is decreased.

Questions regarding what type of memorial, how big it will be, and its’ design and where exactly it should it be placed can be left to another time. But we need to get the ball rolling.

In order to take the financial sting out of the decision, the memorial could be funded (in whole or in part) through private donations enabled via a GoFundMe or kickstarter campaign.

Keep in mind that the victims of the January 6 attacks are not simply the eight people who died during or a result of the attack, but the elected officials and staffers, and law enforcement officers who undoubtedly have experienced post-traumatic stress disorder.

It’s time to move beyond the talking points, and television coverage and concretize the event so that generations from now will be forced to remember its impact on our nation.

Photo Credit:
Brett Davis
Capitol Breach 2