A group of January 6 defendants plans a Washington, D.C. march on the fifth anniversary of the Capitol attack, led by former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio.
At a Glance
- Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio will lead a Jan. 6 anniversary march in D.C.
- The march honors Ashli Babbitt, who was shot and killed by Capitol police during the 2021 riot
- Tarrio was recently pardoned by President Trump and now seeks “justice for Ashli”
- Why it matters: The event could reignite tensions surrounding the 2021 Capitol attack and test security measures at the nation’s capital
The planned gathering comes as the nation marks five years since the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, with organizers promising to honor “all the lives lost that day.”
March Details
According to a flyer posted by Tarrio on X (formerly Twitter), the march will begin at the Ellipse just before noon on Tuesday, January 6. The Ellipse served as the gathering point for the original rally that preceded the 2021 Capitol breach.
Tarrio’s social media post urges supporters to attend:
> “Join us as we march for Ashli on January 6th. We also march in memory of those who passed away. 5 years ago a beautiful life was taken from us. A veteran and a patriot. So I ask those that are able to attend please do so.”
The event specifically focuses on Ashli Babbitt, a U.S. Air Force veteran who was fatally shot by a Capitol police officer while attempting to climb through a broken window during the 2021 riot.
Legal Context
The planned march occurs following President Trump’s recent pardons of January 6 defendants, including Enrique Tarrio. This development has already prompted D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to publicly denounce the pardons, creating additional tensions around the anniversary.
The timing also coincides with renewed attention on the legal proceedings related to January 6. In a recorded deposition released on New Year’s Eve, former special counsel Jack Smith defended his criminal case against Trump, stating:
> “The evidence here made clear that President Trump was by a large measure the most culpable and most responsible person in this conspiracy. These crimes were committed for his benefit. The attack that happened at the Capitol, part of this case, does not happen without him.”
Smith’s case against Trump for allegedly attempting to overturn the 2020 election was dismissed after Trump’s re-election in 2024.
Capitol Security
The January 6, 2021 attack resulted in more than 100 police officers injured during hours of hand-to-hand combat with rioters. D.C. police inspector Robert Glover, speaking to NBC Washington in July 2022, described the intensity of the violence:
> “I could see the fear in a lot of the officers’ eyes. The violence was so fierce he thought some officers would be justified in using deadly force.”
Five years later, a plaque honoring the police officers who defended the Capitol has not been installed. Authorized by Congress in 2022, the memorial’s location remains unknown as it becomes the subject of a federal lawsuit filed by two officers attempting to force the architect of the Capitol to display it on the west front of the building.
The U.S. Department of Justice, defending the architect of the Capitol, is seeking to have the lawsuit dismissed.
Key Takeaways
- Enrique Tarrio, pardoned by Trump, leads a Jan. 6 anniversary march honoring Ashli Babbitt
- The march begins at the Ellipse at noon on January 6
- A memorial plaque for defending police officers has not been installed despite congressional authorization in 2022
- Former special counsel Jack Smith maintains Trump bore primary responsibility for the 2021 Capitol attack
The planned anniversary events highlight the ongoing divisions and legal consequences stemming from the January 6 attack, even as some participants prepare to commemorate the date with a march through Washington.
