“It’s hard,” he said. “I know how proud I was when my son Boyne was honored on the anniversary of his death when he burned down in Iraq. But it brought everything back, as it happened in that moment.
“I want to thank you all for having the courage to be here today,” he added.
Except the police, sir. Biden awarded the medal to five local officials, each of whom refused to heed the behest of those who insisted the election was rigged.
Two of them — Ruby Freeman and her daughter Shaye Moss — were awarded for working as poll workers in Atlanta, where they were verbally abused by Trump supporters, They falsely accused them of participating in electoral fraud.
“Both of them were just doing their jobs, they were being targeted and threatened by the same people spreading lies that fueled the rebellion,” he said. Biden said. “They were effectively forced from their homes and faced vile racist taunts.”
gentlemen. Biden also praised Al Schmidt, who served as city commissioner on the Philadelphia County Elections Commission in 2020, noting that he “did not give in, did not bow, did not give in to political threats and pressure.” State Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Arizona Republican House Speaker Rusty Bowers. All three have resisted pressure from those trying to overturn the results in 2020.
gentlemen. Biden called Ms. “The true leader of our country,” Mr Benson said. Powers showed people “what integrity is”.
A year ago, with the events of January. 6 Looming in the recent past, Mr. Biden expressed larger concerns about the future of the country, saying: “We stand here today — a year has passed since January 1. January 6, 2021 — drives us in this place to see The anger and wild lies of the United States have not abated.”
But on Friday, he returned to the optimism that often characterizes his speeches.
“We are not a country of kings and dictators, dictators and extremists,” he said. “As we have seen in today’s honorees, we are one nation, our people toughen our fibers, renew our faith and strengthen our cause. If we act together, there is nothing we are capable of within reach.”