Communications

Officers Who Defended U.S. Capitol on Jan 6. Discuss Its Impact on Media and Democracy

Students at an American Forum at AU's School of Communication heard first-hand from DC police officer Daniel Hodges and Capitol police officer Harry Dunn, who played heroic roles in defending the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

Officers Daniel Hodges and Harry Dunn with professor Jane Hall

Students at American University’s School of Communication (AU SOC) recently heard first-hand from DC police officer Daniel Hodges and Capitol police officer Harry Dunn, who played heroic roles in defending the U.S. Capitol and the leaders inside it during an American Forum interview moderated by SOC professor Jane Hall. Throughout the powerful, hour-long event, undergraduate and graduate students in journalism and political communication who had watched the officers’ 2021 Congressional testimony had the opportunity to ask questions and engage with officers Hodges and Dunn. The two officers spoke not only about their own harrowing experiences that day but also about the continuing impact on their lives and other officers, their views on whether another January 6 insurrection could happen again, and why and who should be held accountable, and their advice for young journalists covering victims of trauma. Professor Hall also asked them about their perspectives on what Jan. 6 means—and may mean—for the future of democracy in America.

"Kudos to Jane Hall for bringing together such a poignant, magical and intimate event for our students to meet newsmakers in person," said SOC journalism division director Amy Eisman. "They won’t forget it." The program has been recorded, and excerpts are available on the SOC YouTube channel and via SOC social media.

And it's communicated how dire the circumstances were, and how brutal the attack was...because if the country truly understands that, then that's the most important step to making change.

Hodges, who was the subject of a now-viral video in which he was brutally crushed against a door by insurrectionists, said in response to a question from Professor Hall about what it feels like to have the video seen worldwide, "I've got a lot of mixed feelings about it. It's, it's a little embarrassing, because, you know, no one wants to be their 15 minutes of fame to be calling out for help. And, you know, getting beaten up, especially if you're especially a big tough police officer. But also, I'm glad that it's out there, and that it got the circulation that it did, because people had a very visceral reaction to it. And it's communicated how dire the circumstances were, and how brutal the attack was, in a way that many other images, words and videos could not. And, you know communicating that is really important, because if the country truly understands that, then that's the most important step to making change."

Officers Hodges and Dunn

While both men emphasized their desire to move forward with their lives and careers, they clearly remain impacted by the events of Jan. 6. Dunn, in particular, has been outspoken on Twitter about his trauma and efforts to whitewash the insurrection. "I haven't stopped thinking about it for a minute since it happened," Dunn, a 14-year veteran of the U.S. Capitol Police, told students.

Dunn also spoke abou t the racial slurs he endured that day, as well as the impact on his own mental health and that of other offices. Students asked both men about what it feels like to be the subject of media coverage—and they gave advice to the young journalists and students in political communication about covering victims of trauma. "Treat us as human beings, not just a story," said Dunn. "We’re also victims."

Alexander Fernandez asking officers Dunn and Hodges a question — Undergraduates in journalism and political communication in Professor Hall’s two classes in Advanced Reporting and Politics and the Media, along with graduate students in journalism from Professor Eisman’s and Professor Jill Olmsted’s classes, listened intently and said afterwards that they have been impacted beyond the event.

"As a person, I have much respect for the work they did that day," said Alexander Fernandez (right), a graduate student specializing in investigative journalism. "As a journalist, I see them as valuable sources of insight into a chapter in our nation’s history."

Lalini Pedris asking officers Dunn and Hodges a question Added graduate student Lalini Pedris (left): "The relaxed atmosphere and intimate gathering brought out the officers’ humor, frankness, and vulnerability, and seeing them in the flesh rather than through a screen really brought home the depth of trauma and emotion experienced during and after their ordeal."

Hayden Godfrey is a graduate student at American University, where he is pursuing a Master of Arts (MA) in Journalism & Public Affairs. He is a graduate reporter and researcher at the Investigative Reporting Workshop (IRW) and is enrolled in the university’s Washington Post practicum course.

American University School of Communication

Jan. 6 American Forum with Officers Hodges and Dunn Playlist

Watch the recorded conversations between AU SOC professor Jane Hall and officers Daniel Hodges and Harry Dunn.

Videos in this Playlist

Videos in this playlist

To play a specific video, use the playlist icon in the player or view each video on YouTube.