GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Former U.S. Capitol officers Harry Dunn and Daniel Hodges spoke in support of Vice President Kamala Harris at an event in Grand Rapids Friday, detailing what they described as a traumatic experience as officers during the Jan. 6 riots.
The event, held at the Wealthy Theatre in Grand Rapids, featured several democratic representatives from across the state: Rep. Jennifer Conlin, Rep. Kristian Grant, Rep. John Fitzgerald and hopeful state representative Austin Marsman all spoke on their experiences as politicians following the riots.
The roundtable was moderated by Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller.
Speakers highlighted the shift in political landscape following the events of the riots, noting a distinct increase in voter anxiety. Sheriff Fuller said the events made people afraid to vote, something he argues must come to an end.
"I thank these two gentlemen for being what I would always say, heroes of democracy, defenders of democracy," Fuller said. "We have to protect the elections. We have to protect the people who are working the polls. And of course, we have to make sure that people's rights are protected."
Fuller emphasized what he believes is the importance of discussions like Friday's—to identify what led to the day and how to avoid it happening again.
"I remember the day very vividly and watching it on television from my office in Kalamazoo, and just wondering how it could have gotten to this point," Fuller said. "How did we get there that day is what we want to make sure that people think about and that we're able to move on in our lives."
In his speech, Officer Harry Dunn argued against Trump's campaign in being supportive of law enforcement.
"Trump claims that, you know, he's the party of law enforcement and law and order. And it kind of digs at me a little bit," Dunn said. "He called the people who attacked our capitol patriots. He calls the men and women who died serving and protecting this country, suckers and losers. Here's a message to Donald Trump: You can't call yourself pro law enforcement when you inflame political divisions at every turn."
Dunn argued he was attacked for simply doing his job, something he said he blames on Trump's leadership.
"It wasn't about Joe Biden, it wasn't about Nancy Pelosi, it wasn't about Donald Trump. It was about protecting democracy, defending our oath, standing up for what we signed up to do as police officers," Dunn said. "They thought that they were right. They thought they had the right to do so. They called officers traitors. Why did they do that? Because they were emboldened by the most powerful person, arguably, in the in the world that told them to go do that."
"The violence that you saw was probably 10, 100 times worse than what the cameras portrayed it to be," Dunn added.
Officer Hodges agreed.
"When they were beating me and my colleagues with the thin blue line flag, I didn't really see how they were the party that supports the police," Hodges said. "They do not value law they do not value order. They value their own power, their own positions."
Hodges said that after he went through his traumatic experience on Jan. 6, he was never the same person.
"I was getting crushed and had my gas mask ripped off my head, beaten with my own baton," Hodges said. "Several people pinned me against a waist-high wall while one of them reached underneath my mask, pushed my head against their thumb and tried to gouge out my eye."
Hodges said that he wishes he was irrelevant and did not have to attend events like these but couldn't after the attack.
"As a police officer who experienced the attack on our capitol firsthand, I believe Donald Trump and his MAGA movement are the greatest threat to our democracy and the safety of communities across the country today," Hodges said. "Why wouldn't he try it again? There's no reason why we should believe that he's a changed man."
State representatives echoed their sentiments, highlighting what they believe is the danger of a Trump presidency: More political division and violence.
"January 6 changed the history of our democracy, but we cannot let it change the course of our democracy," Rep. Fitzgerald said. "I think that that's what's really important here in 2020 make sure that when people tell you who they are, believe them."
Fitzgerald continued by emphasizing the need for safe and secure elections, arguing the former president would hinder that if elected.
"We've really tried to turn voting, voting day, Election Day into voting month here in the state of Michigan, because people need to feel comfortable and supported when they drop their ballot whether it be in person or early or remotely," Fitzgerald said. "That's really what we need to do, is make sure that people are accountable for their actions, and that includes the former president."
Rep. Conlin connected the events of Jan. 6 to others which caused political division, discussing a White Lives Matter rally which took place in one of her more conservative towns.
"A dozen men came out, but with faces covered, shouting 'Heil Hitler', with their White Lives Matter sign," Conlin said. "Residents in the city of Howell pushed back and tried to videotape them. The city of Howell condemned it. The representatives, including myself, condemned it. But this is real."
The group then discussed misinformation and the dynamic it played during Jan. 6.
"It's difficult for me to understand the issues people have and understanding what happened, because it's so well documented," Officer Hodges said. "One of the things I was thinking of while I was there is that everyone had their phone out and was recording everything. I was thinking, well, there's no lack of evidence for when all these people go to trial, right?"
"I want people to understand that there's no conspiracy here. There's no deep state agenda. There weren't Feds that made it happen," Hodges added. "Donald Trump called his people to The Ellipse on January 6, he knew that they were armed. He said they're not here to hurt me. He sent them to the capitol and told them to fight, and that's what they did."
The group each expressed their support for Harris and running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, arguing they, rather than the Republican ticket, are the party for law enforcement.
Speaking on behalf of the Michigan GOP, James Tignanelli, the president of the Michigan Police Officers Association, disagrees. He said in order to understand Trump's sentiments toward the police, just looking at Jan. 6 will not be enough.
"I wouldn't rely on that to lead me one way or the other," Tignanelli said. "What I've seen in the last three and a half years... is that most of the things that I've heard about the current Vice President Kamala Harris, is that she's not supportive of the police."
In April, the Police Officers Association of Michigan endorsed former president Donald Trump for the 2024 election. Tignanelli said it's because he believes the former president would listen to law enforcement.
"I think he gives us a reason to think that he respects us," Tignanelli said. "That doesn't mean that he has to fund us and has to obey us, but I think that he has expressed to us or exhibited to us a feeling that he feels that our job is a tough enough one, and that being unequipped or being low on staffing is dangerous to us."
Tignanelli said he believes Harris' pick of Walz was a sign that the ticket doesn’t have law enforcement at top of mind.
"What she did there was sort of reinforced me that this is a person that has done all he can to reduce the amount of police in many in Minnesota to allow crimes to be committed while we were watching," Tignanelli said. "I think that that's the difference, you know, and why we would pick, we would stay with Trump."
"He has always treated us with respect," Tignanelli added.
13 ON YOUR SIDE reached out to the Trump campaign to speak on the claims. They responded with the following statement:
"Dangerously liberal Kamala Harris is as anti-law enforcement as it gets. She's spent the majority of her career failing to support them, refusing to seek the death penalty against a cop killer, praising progressive prosecutors who put criminals first, and celebrating Los Angeles' decision to cut police funding. Her pick for Vice President, Tim Walz, let his state burn from violent rioters instead of empowering law enforcement. In 2021, Michigan had four of the 20 most violent cities in the nation - Michiganders know how crucial strong and supported law enforcement officers are in our communities. That's the only reason flip flopping Kamala is now, once again, attempting to cover her tracks. The Police Officers Association of Michigan has endorsed President Donald J. Trump because they know that he's the only candidate in this race that backs the blue," Team Trump Michigan Communications Director Victoria LaCivita wrote.