A bill in the state legislature would establish January 6th of each year as a day to honor democracy after the Washington DC capitol riots on the same date in 2021,

The bill from Democratic Representative Rafael Macias of Topsham, and co-sponsored by several other Democrats, would preserve the accounts of witnesses who were at the capitol on January 6th, including Maine’s congressional delegation.

The FBI recognized the January 6th riots as domestic terrorism in 2022, while President Trump has called it a “day of love” and has granted clemency to 1,500-plus people charged in the event.

The bill was heard Monday in the Committee on State and Local Government and could get further consideration in an upcoming special session of the legislature being called by Governor Janet Mills.

It establishes January 6th of each year as A Day to Remember to honor the resilience of democracy during the events of January 6, 2021 in Washington, D.C.

It also directs the State Archivist to collect and preserve firsthand accounts from the State’s congressional delegation and staff and others connected to the events of January 6, 2021. Educational materials would be created based on those accounts which would be made available to the public through an online archive and physical exhibits.