US: Democrats in the US Senate and House commemorated the fifth anniversary of the assault on the US Capitol on January 6. They warned that American democracy is still in danger and accused President Donald Trump and his supporters of continuing to misrepresent what happened that day.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said that the nation must “never forget what happened on January 6th, five years ago” and that democracy was “at greater risk than it has been in a century” at a press conference at the US Capitol. Future generations need to keep in mind “the day democracy was placed at greater risk than it has been in more than a century,” he warned.

“Five years ago, a vicious mob tried to undo American democracy,” Schumer said, describing the incident as an effort to sabotage the 2020 presidential election. “Egged on by Donald Trump, thousands of rioters stormed the US Capitol,” he added, smashing windows, looting offices, and forcing politicians and staff to escape for their lives.

Schumer recalled a personal incident in which a Capitol Police officer alerted him to impending danger while he was in his office. He recalled how police hurried him out as protestors got within feet of legislators, saying, “Never forget that feel.” “But I wasn’t hurt because of the work of my courageous police officers.”

Schumer said that Trump was trying to place the blame on law enforcement and disseminating lies about the incident. “A maliciously false account that blamed the Capitol Police for the violence was released by Donald Trump’s White House,” he claimed, adding that Trump then granted “a blanket pardon for every single criminal who attacked our police on January 6th.”

Schumer spoke to the officers of the District of Columbia and Capitol Police as “heroes,” saying they “protected this building, protected lives, protected democracy.” He cautioned that attempts to downplay or reframe the assault undermine the nation. He said, “Every time they do, they weaken the structure and the beauty of this country.”

Democrats gathered to remember “the solemn five year anniversary of the violent insurgency incited by Donald Trump to overturn the results of a free and fair election,” according to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who repeated similar comments. “Outnumbered by a violent mob but never overwhelmed by the seriousness of the moment,” he said of the police officers who protected the Capitol.

Officers were “beaten with pipes, whipped, assaulted by bear spray, and pummeled by Confederate flagpoles,” according to Jeffries, who detailed hours of battles between police and protesters. He said that “they were bloodied but unbowed” in spite of the assault.

He said that their deeds had saved lives. “Many of us would not be alive today if it weren’t for their bravery on that fateful day,” Jeffries said. “Donald Trump may have pardoned your crimes, but only God can pardon your sin,” he said, addressing those involved in the assault.

Jeffries pledged to fight attempts to tamper with elections and said that Democrats will not let the events of January 6 to be “whitewashed.” He said, “We will never permit another violent uprising to occur on American soil.”

Attendees included relatives of deceased policemen Jeffrey Smith and Brian Sicknick. In order to memorialize those who lost their lives in the assault, both leaders stopped to recognize their sacrifice and asked for a minute of quiet.

The assault happened on January 6, 2021, when Congress convened to confirm President Joe Biden’s Electoral College win over then-President Trump. Lawmakers were forced to suspend proceedings and leave the Capitol after a throng of Trump supporters penetrated security.

Since then, over 1,000 individuals have been charged in relation to the assault, which continues to be a pivotal moment in US politics, influencing discussions about election integrity, accountability, and the tenacity of American democratic institutions.