While the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol resulted in five initial fatalities, (including a police officer), four responding officers who died by suicide within seven months of the fateful day, and hundreds injured, an organization was planning to award the insurrectionists’ efforts. However, the “J6 Awards Gala,” an event meant to honor and raise funds for convicted criminals from January 6, has been postponed.
Just days before the planned ceremony, organizers from the group Stand in the Gap Foundation announced that the event, originally scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 4 at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey, would not go ahead as planned.
The awards ceremony was set to pay tribute to 20 MAGA loyalists, many of whom are currently behind bars. These individuals were part of the violent mob that stormed the Capitol and later recorded a song from jail titled “Justice for All.” The evening was described by organizers as an “unforgettable night,” dedicated to honoring those whom they have labeled as heroes in the aftermath of the insurrection.
Though the event was advertised with Donald Trump listed as an “invited guest,” it was reported by The New York Times that the former president was not expected to attend. Instead, Trump’s former attorney, Rudy Giuliani, was promoted as a featured guest, along with several right-wing influencers and the families of the imprisoned insurrectionists, referred to by their supporters as “America’s Heroes.”
The gala wasn’t cheap, either. General admission tickets cost $1,500, while VIP tickets, which offered attendees closer proximity to the controversial gathering, cost $2,500. The funds raised were intended to support the January 6 defendants, who continue to face significant legal and financial challenges, according to the event’s organizers.
However, the gala’s postponement came as a surprise to many. In late August, Fox Business, part of the Fox News family that had amplified the electoral disinformation that fueled the attack, reported that the event was being delayed due to “scheduling conflicts” with invited guest speakers. Despite that report, which claimed Trump might be in attendance, the gala received little attention from major news outlets.
While the fundraiser has been postponed, Stand in the Gap expressed hope that it would occur after Nov. 5— Election Day.
The twice impeached and 34 times convicted felon and former president, who has long expressed support for the individuals convicted in connection with the insurrection, has publicly called for their release, referring to them as “hostages.”
Prominent MAGA figures such as Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene have even visited some of these incarcerated individuals, further cementing their status as martyrs within far-right circles.
Meanwhile, Trump’s legal troubles continue to escalate. The 78-year-old faces sentencing on Sept. 18 for 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records to conceal an alleged affair with adult film actress Stormy Daniels.