Pelosi announces series of events to mark Jan. 6 anniversary

Historians Jon Meacham and Doris Kearns Goodwin are slated to participate in one of the events organized at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 to mark the one-year anniversary of the deadly riot.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced in a letter to colleagues on Thursday that Meacham and Goodwin will participate in a conversation moderated by Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden “to establish and preserve the narrative of January 6th.”

Meacham endorsed former President Biden in the 2020 election and spoke at the Democratic National Convention last year. 

Other events scheduled for next Thursday include a moment of silence, time for lawmakers to share their testimonials regarding the Jan. 6 riot and a prayer vigil. The House will be holding a pro forma session that day.

“These events are intended as an observance of reflection, remembrance and recommitment, in a spirit of unity, patriotism and prayerfulness,” Pelosi wrote. “All events will be live-streamed, so that Members can watch and participate from their districts.”

Democrats have sought to keep attention on the events of Jan. 6, with a special committee set up to probe the riot issuing a series of subpoenas and document requests in recent months to former Trump administration officials.

Pelosi announced earlier this month that her office was planning a series of events for the first week of January as part of a “solemn observance” of the riot. 

Next Thursday will mark the one-year anniversary since supporters of former President Trump stormed the Capitol in an effort to disrupt Congress as it moved to certify the 2020 presidential election results.

Lawmakers, aides and reporters ducked for cover or hid inside offices as the mob breached the Capitol. The insurrection has only deepened political divisions among Democrats and Republicans, but it also wedged a divide among Republicans.

Two Republicans, Reps. Liz Cheney (Wyo.) and Adam Kinzinger (Ill.), were tapped to sit on the House panel investigating the riot, receiving criticism from some of their GOP colleagues. Trump has also blasted the committee as politically motivated.