House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is continuing to honor U.S. Capitol police officer Brian Sicknick who died following the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Speaking with reporters on Thursday, Pelosi touched on the “connection among our Capitol police and how they mourned the loss of their colleague.”
“Indeed Officer Sicknick is a martyr for democracy,” the House speaker added. She also noted the other officers who died following the riot, saying they will be honored as well “sometime soon.”
She said, “When it came to danger in the Capitol, Officer Sicknick and the Capitol police, whom we are enormously grateful… put themselves between us and the violence, saving lives and defending democracy.”
Watch Pelosi’s comments below:
Pelosi says Brian Sicknick, the Capitol police officer who died from January 6 riot injuries and was honored in the Capitol this week, was a "martyr for democracy" https://t.co/Nj065CIsxp pic.twitter.com/gMBKJ2W4Vp
— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 4, 2021
Sicknick died from injuries sustained on Jan. 6 when pro-Trump protesters stormed the U.S. Capitol.
This week, Sicknick lied in honor in the U.S. Capitol, becoming the third police officer to receive the honor. His remains were then taken to Arlington National Cemetery to be buried.
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden paid their respects to Sicknick late Tuesday.
Last week, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visited National Guard troops to thank them for their service following the U.S. Capitol riot.
“I want to tell you we’re really grateful for your service and we know it’s not easy to leave home and come out here and help us out, but you’re doing a great service on behalf of your country and protecting the Capitol so that lawmakers can rest at ease and do the work that they got to do on behalf of this country,” Austin said outside of the U.S. Capitol.