Several Vigils Being Held Across Massachusetts To Remember First Anniversary Of January 6 U.S. Capitol Attack

BOSTON (CBS) – The first anniversary of the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol will be remembered in several events in Washington, DC and across the country Thursday.

In Massachusetts, a series of vigils have been scheduled throughout the day. They began in Lynnfield Thursday morning, where a small group gathered with one goal in mind.

"Just to remind people we had a riot, an insurrection a year ago today. A lot of people try to pretend it didn't happen, calling them 'tourists.' It was a riot," Mark McDonough of Lynnfield told WBZ-TV.

"There was a mob trying to overthrow an election and overthrow our government," he added. "We can't forget it, can't let our democracy sink to that sort of level."

Organizers are calling these events "Vigils for Democracy." Cars honked, passing by signs that called for those responsible for the riots to be held accountable.

"You know our forefathers said at the very beginning it's a democracy if you can keep it. That's our job, we've got to keep this democracy," said Alix Smullin of Swampscott.

The vigils will continue through the day Thursday in Worcester, Eastham, Falmouth, Sandwich, Concord, Weston, Sudbury, Fall River, Andover, Nahant, Newton, Stow, Franklin, Framingham, Watertown, Quincy, Milton and at the State House in Boston.

For times and specific locations, click here.