The coffin of the policeman killed after the invasion of Capitol Hill by supporters of Donald Trump on January 6 will be on display in the Rotunda of the seat of the US Parliament in Washington, an exceptional tribute, parliamentarians said on Friday.
Constable Brian Sicknick, 42, was injured during “physical contact with protesters” who broke into Congress, Capitol Police said. He was allegedly hit on the head with a fire extinguisher, according to sources cited by the New York Times.
Returned to his quarters, the policeman then collapsed. Taken to the local hospital, he succumbed to his injuries the next day. The death of Mr. Sicknick, who worked for 12 years in this police department, brought to five killed the toll of violence in the precincts of the Congress.
“The United States Congress is united in sorrow, gratitude and solemn gratitude for the service and sacrifice of Officer Brian Sicknick,” said Democratic Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader in the Senate Chuck Schumer, Friday in a statement.
His actions “during the violent insurgency against our Capitol helped save lives, defend the temple of our democracy and ensure that Congress is not diverted from our duty to the Constitution,” they added. “We have the great privilege of paying homage to Officer Sicknick with this ceremony” of meditation.
The coffins of four have been on display in the past in the rotunda under the Capitol dome, according to the House Archives website: Reverend Billy Graham, civil rights figure Rosa Parks, and two other Capitol Hill police officers. , Jacob Chestnut and John Gibson, killed in Congress in an exchange of gunfire in 1998.
The flags of the Capitol had been half-masted in honor of Mr. Sicknick and his remains had been greeted by a guard of honor, during his transfer from the morgue to the funeral directors.