Two years after the attack on CapitolPresident Joe Biden said on Friday that “there is no place for political violence” in USAwhen decorating the policemen who faced a crowd of supporters of Donald Trump.
“We must say clearly with one voice that there is no place…in USA for voter intimidation. None, ever, due to political violence,” he said. Biden.
“USA it’s a country of law, not chaos,” the 80-year-old Democrat said, before greeting the honorees Friday, “a remarkable group of American citizens.”
In addition, the president delivered one of the highest decorations to civilians in the country, the Presidential Medal for Citizensto 14 police officers and electoral officials for their “exceptional” contributions to democracy, on the occasion of the second anniversary of the storming the capitol.
“History will remember them for their bravery and courage,” he said. Biden at a commemorative ceremony at the White House before awarding the medals.
Among the honorees were nine police officers Policeman who confronted the assailants in the Capitol and five election officials from states such as Michigan y Philadelphiawhere efforts were made to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which Biden he beat the then president, the republican Donald Trump (2017-2021).
“It is not an exaggeration to say that USA is indebted to you (…) it was democracy that was at stake,” the president stressed during the ceremony.
Three police officers were posthumously honored: Brian Sicknickwho died after the attack after suffering two strokes, like Howard Liebengood y Jeffrey Smithwho committed suicide after the assault.
The Secretary of State for Michigan, Jocelyn Bensonand the Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives, Rusty Bowerswere among the election officials awarded the medal for their “efforts to resist attempts to overturn the results” of the 2020 presidential election, he said. Biden.
Relatives of the police officers and officials were present at the event, as well as the vice president of the country, Kamala Harris.
The Presidential Medal for Citizens is the second highest honor for a president of EU can hand over a civilian, outmatched by the Freedom Medal. It’s the first time that Biden He delivers this type of commemoration in his tenure.
On the assault on the Capitol
According to data from the authorities, around 140 agents were attacked by protesters in favor of Trumpwho were armed with axes, bats, hockey sticks and other weapons, during the assault on the Capitol.
Five people, including a policeman, were killed in the attack.
On January 6, 2021, hundreds of followers of Trump broke into the headquarters Congress when a joint session of the two chambers was held to ratify the victory of Bidenafter the Republican gave an incendiary speech in which he encouraged his supporters to march towards the Capitol amid his unfounded allegations that there was electoral fraud in 2020.
(AFP and EFE)