A photo of a gate in front of the U.S. Capitol with a sign that says \"A R E A C L O S E D\" in red letters.
Two officers who defended the U.S. Capitol from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack will speak at an event hosted by the VCU College of Humanities and Sciences' Department of Political Science on VCU's campus this month. The event will take place from 4-5:30 p.m. Jan. 19 at The Commons Theater. (Getty Images)

Jan. 5, 2023

Officers who defended U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, will speak at Jan. 19 VCU event

U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn and D.C. Metropolitan Police Officer Danny Hodges will share their experiences at “Memories of January 6th: A Conversation with Two U.S. Capitol Police Officers.”

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By Mary Kate Brogan
School of Pharmacy

Two police officers will share their personal stories from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol at an event at Virginia Commonwealth University from 4-5:30 p.m. on Jan. 19.

U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn and D.C. Metropolitan Police Officer Danny Hodges will share their experiences at “Memories of January 6th: A Conversation with Two U.S. Capitol Police Officers,” moderated by Jatia Wrighten, Ph.D., and Alex Keena, Ph.D., assistant professors in the Department of Political Science at VCU’s College of Humanities and Sciences. This event, held in partnership with the Department of Political Science at Randolph-Macon College, is free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged (bit.ly/VCUJan6).

The conversation, Wrighten said, is an opportunity for attendees to hear directly from the officers who were there and learn what citizens can do to prevent something similar from happening in the future.

“American democracy is not a given — it is something that has to be worked at and maintained,” Wrighten said. “Conversations surrounding an attempt to dismantle democracy and what that means for its citizens are imperative conversations to have with the public.”

The event will explore polarization in the United States, the fragility of political institutions and other dangers to democracy illustrated by the events of Jan. 6. It is a reminder, Keena said, that democracy should not be taken for granted.

“I hope people get a better sense of what happened at the Capitol on January 6, the challenges that officers confronted, and come to some better understanding about the democratic process in the U.S.,” Keena said.