'Brazen' US Capitol Rioters Demand Financial Compensation After Pardons

Protest in Washington DC Marks Fifth Anniversary of January 6th Riot
"We Lost Our Lives" - Participants Blame Government and Demand Financial Compensation

As the fifth anniversary of the January 6th United States Capitol riot, which resulted in over 100 casualties, arrives, participants in the riot who were pardoned by President Donald Trump have begun demanding financial compensation from the government. There are now observations that those who incited violence based on Trump's claims of a rigged 2020 presidential election and his failure to secure re-election are now turning their grievances toward the Trump administration itself.

On the 6th (local time), a protest by participants of the January 6 riot was held in Washington DC, USA. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

On the 6th (local time), The New York Times (NYT) reported that individuals calling themselves the "January 6ers" (J6ers) marched in Washington DC to mark the fifth anniversary of the incident, demanding compensation measures from the Trump administration.

The January 6th Capitol riot occurred on January 6, 2021, when hundreds of Trump’s fervent supporters stormed the Capitol building and engaged in indiscriminate violence, following President Trump’s allegations of election fraud. At the time, physical clashes broke out throughout Congress, resulting in the deaths of five people, including one police officer, and injuries to 150 others, including law enforcement officers. Many of the participants who were later convicted received pardons or commuted sentences immediately after President Trump returned to office in 2024.

These individuals claimed that their lives were "ruined" after spending months or even years in prison. Guy Reffitt, the first rioter to be convicted, told the NYT, "We deserve to be compensated for what was taken from us." Enrique Tarrio, one of the organizers of the riot who was sentenced to 22 years in prison but later pardoned, said, "What we are seeking is retribution," adding, "There can be no justice without accountability."

Some even argued that police officers who responded to the riot and were involved in the deaths of certain participants should be brought to court. Among those who claimed to have been mistreated while incarcerated, there were calls for a complete overhaul of the federal prison system. Some protesters created tense scenes by shouting at police officers, saying things like "Shame on you" and "Murderous thugs."

However, the scale of the protest that day was smaller than in previous years and did not even match the number of police officers deployed at the scene. Counter-protests criticizing the January 6th riot also took place. Both sides exchanged insults through loudspeakers, and some passersby booed the protesters, calling them "terrorists." Police completely controlled the area and prepared for any possible incidents.

Meanwhile, no Trump administration officials attended the protest or commemorative events marking the fifth anniversary. President Trump, who gave a speech to Republican members of the House of Representatives that morning, made little mention of the riot and did not offer any tribute to the victims.