Pres. Joe Biden Says Capitol Riot a ‘Violent Attempt’ by “Extremists’ and ‘Terrorists’ to Hold Power at All Costs
U.S. President Joe Biden, joined by lawmakers and members of law enforcement and their families, signs legislation to award congressional gold medals to law enforcement in the Rose Garden of the White House on August 5, 2021 in Washington, DC. Biden spoke before signing H.R. 3325, legislation to award four congressional gold medals to the United States Capitol Police and those who protected the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Win McNamee/Getty Images

President Joe Biden said the Capitol riot on January 6 was an insurrection by "extremists" and "terrorists" aiming to overturn "the will of the American people."

"A mob of extremists and terrorists launched a violent and deadly assault on the people's House... It was insurrection," Biden said during the signing of a bill awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to law enforcement officers who responded to the Capitol riot on Thursday at the White House.

The president encouraged everyone to remember what happened on January 6 and what it was all about, Aljazeera reported. Joe Biden noted that it was a violent attempt to overturn the people's will, seek power at all costs, and replace the ballot with brute force.

"To destroy, not to build. Without democracy, nothing is possible. With it, everything is," the president said.

Joe Biden Honoring the Capitol Police Officers

The president signed the bill to award Congressional Gold Medals to law enforcement officers who defended the U.S. Capitol during the January 6 riot. The Congressional Gold Medal is one of the highest civilian honors.

Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris held a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden in light of the signing of the said legislation.

The president had expressed his gratitude to police officers who responded during the Capitol riot. He thanked them for saving the lives of the duly elected members of the Senate and the House, as well as their staffs, CBS News reported.

Joe Biden also commemorated the late Capitol officers Brian Sicknick and Billy Evans, who died after defending the U.S. Capitol.

More than 150 police officers were injured in the assault on the Capitol. Many police forces said they were being dragged into the crowd of rioters and beaten and tased, while others had hit them with chemical sprays and flag poles.

Joe Biden signed the legislation with the help of the daughter of one of the police officers. Abigail Evans stood at his elbow and looking at the number of pens the president used, Daily Mail reported.

Abigail and her brother Logan were children of officer Evans, who had survived the insurrection but was killed when a driver crashed into a security barricade, crushing him.

Biden went on to comment on insurrection, saying that it was not dissent nor a debate. He added that it was riot and mayhem that was "fundamentally un-American."

Joe Biden has signed a $2.1 billion supplemental security spending package, with $100 million allocated to the Capitol Police.

The budget was expected to backfill seen overtime until the agency can hire more officers. It will also be spent on wellness and trauma support for Capitol Police officers.

Capitol Police Officers' Testimony

Capitol police officers, who responded to the scene, testified during an inquiry and recounted their experiences during the riot.

Aquilino A. Gonell, a U.S. Capitol Police sergeant, said all the people who tried to breach the Capitol were told that former President Donald Trump had sent them, New York Times reported.

Officer Harry Dunn of the Capitol Police said the rioters were screaming racial slurs at him. Meanwhile, three police officers died by suicide days after the Capitol riot.

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Biden Honors Responders Of Jan 6. Capitol Riot With Congressional Gold Medals - From NBC News