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A video went viral on social networks where you can see the family of the Capitol police officer, Brian Sicknick, snubbing the Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy during a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony honoring those who worked to safeguard the Capitol during the riot on January 6, 1200.
Sicknick’s mother, father and brother, who suffered a pair of strokes and died of natural causes one day after responding to the insurrection, refused to shake hands with the political leaders as part of their anger for diminishing the heroism they showed that day .
In an interview with CBS, Ken Sicknick pointed out that the Republican leaders “have no idea what integrity is” and pointed to Republican Rep. Louis Gohmert “who presented an American flag flying over the Capitol to a January 6 rioter and told them that they were patriots. It’s disgusting. Take away everything my brother has done. Take away the heroism that my brother showed ”because for the Republicans, he said,“ the party comes first ”.
Gladys Sicknick, mother of the police officer, revealed to CNN her reasons for not shaking hands with US politicians “they just have two faces. I’m tired of them standing there and saying how wonderful the Capitol Police are and then turning around and going down to Mar-a-Lago and kissing her ring and they come back and stand here and sit with…it just hurts.”
The Senate minority leader, McConnell, was questioned about the incident and without getting involved in the subject indicated that “I would respond by saying that today we gave the gold medal to the heroes of January 6. We admire and respect them. They risked their lives and that is why today we present a gold medal to the heroes of January 6”.
The president of the Chamber of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, who did shake hands, indicated that “ January 6th was a day of horror and anguish. It is also a moment of extraordinary heroism.” Contemplating deadly violence and despicable bigotry, our law enforcement officers bravely stood in the gap to ensure democracy survived on that dark day. So, on behalf of the United States Congress and the American people, it is my honor to present the Congressional Gold Medal to the United States Capitol Police, the Metropolitan Police and all the heroes of January 6, on behalf of all the officers who responded that day.”
During Congressional Gold Medal ceremony for Jan. 6 police, representatives of those receiving awards shake hands with Schumer then walk past McConnell and McCarthy. pic.twitter.com/YGjKXRGtiZ — Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) December 6,