A group of people connected to the events of Jan. 6, 2021, is set to make a “peaceful” return march to the U.S. Capitol next week.
Event organizers say the march, which will fall on the fifth anniversary of the Jan. 6 riot, will commemorate the life of Jan. 6 protester Ashli Babbitt, an Air Force veteran who was shot and killed by U.S. Capitol police as she attempted to access the House floor five years ago.
“Join us as we march for Ashli on January 6th,” Enrique Tarrio, the former head of the Proud Boys who was convicted of charges related to Jan. 6, said in a post to X.
“5 years ago a beautiful life was taken from us. A veteran and a patriot. So I ask those that are able to attend please do so,” he added. “This will be a PATRIOTIC and PEACEFUL march. If you have any intention of causing trouble we ask that you stay home. This event will focus on one thing and one thing only … HER memory.”
In May 2025, the Trump administration agreed to pay nearly $5 million to Babbitt’s family after they brought a lawsuit against the government due to her death, which argued Capitol police were negligent in their use of force against the “unarmed” Ashli.
Tarrio; Guy Reffitt, who was convicted of five charges stemming from Jan. 6; Ben Pollock, who had two children jailed for Jan. 6 offences; and Tami Jackson, whose husband was jailed for his actions on that day, are among the speakers set to headline the event commemorating Babbitt’s life next week.
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In January 2025, President Donald Trump pardoned most of those charged with offenses related to Jan. 6, saying the executive order “ends a grave national injustice that has been perpetrated upon the American people over the last four years and begins a process of national reconciliation.”
The president has often argued that the charges leveled against over 1,500 Jan. 6 offenders were disproportionate to their crimes, suggesting the incident was largely manufactured as a weapon against his supporters.