The Controversial Push for Military Honors for Ashli Babbitt After January 6th

In the aftermath of the January 6th Capitol attack, a contentious debate has emerged surrounding the posthumous recognition of Ashli Babbitt, who was fatally shot by a police officer during the riot. Despite her participation in an insurrectionary event, a vocal segment of the Republican party and her family have been advocating for Babbitt to receive military honors, a proposition that has ignited fierce discussion and criticism.

Babbitt, an Air Force veteran, was among the throng of Donald Trump supporters who breached the Capitol.

She was attempting to climb through a broken window into the Speaker’s Lobby when she was shot by Lt. Michael Byrd of the U.S. Capitol Police. Her death has become a rallying cry for many on the far-right, who portray her as a martyr rather than an individual who participated in an unlawful breach of government.

The push for military honors stems from Babbitt's prior service, but critics argue that such recognition would be a profound disrespect to the uniform and the principles it represents.

Military honors are typically reserved for service members who die honorably, or whose deaths are directly related to their service or a subsequent honorable civilian life. Granting such honors to someone who died while actively engaged in an attempt to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power is seen by many as antithetical to the very oath service members take to defend the Constitution.

Prominent figures within the Republican party, including some members of Congress, have publicly supported the idea, framing Babbitt as a victim and downplaying the gravity of the January 6th events.

This stance is largely seen as an attempt to rewrite the narrative of the Capitol riot, recasting participants as patriots rather than rioters. However, the Department of Defense and veterans' organizations have largely remained steadfast, indicating that Babbitt's actions on January 6th disqualify her from traditional military honors.

The controversy underscores a deeper partisan divide over the interpretation of the Capitol riot itself.

While one side views it as a legitimate protest gone awry, the other sees it as a dangerous assault on American democracy. The fight over Ashli Babbitt's legacy, and whether she deserves military recognition, is more than just about a single individual; it's a battle for the historical narrative of a pivotal and polarizing day in American history, and a challenge to the established norms of military valor and sacrifice.