Biden, Harris to speak on anniversary of Capitol insurrection

President Biden and Vice President Harris will speak on Thursday to mark the anniversary of the insurrection at the Capitol, the White House announced Sunday.

The White House had previously indicated it would mark the anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack at the Capitol but had not provided details. Hundreds of pro-Trump rioters stormed the complex that day, overwhelming law enforcement and seeking to stop the certification of Biden’s electoral victory.

Biden has repeatedly referred to the insurrection as a dark day in U.S. history, condemned the rioters and thanked the Capitol Police who were on the scene.

The president and vice president will speak in one part of a series of events organized by Democrats to memorialize the day.

The House will not be in session, so many lawmakers may be out of town, but Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced there would be a moment of silence, time for lawmakers to share their testimonials from a year ago and a prayer vigil.

Historians Jon Meacham and Doris Kearns Goodwin are also slated to participate in one of the events.

Biden’s remarks on Thursday will serve as something of a split screen as former President Trump holds what he has billed as a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on the same day.

Trump has repeatedly downplayed the events of Jan. 6, 2021, and he has continued to make false and disproven claims that the election was fraudulent. In a speech before the insurrection, Trump made repeated false claims about the election and urged his supporters to march to the Capitol and make their voices heard.