WASHINGTON (DC News Now)— A crowd gathered outside the detention center in Southeast D.C. Tuesday, as people waited for those charged and convicted of crimes related to January 6 to be released. “I’m so grateful we finally have a president who is going to reverse this,” said Lois Vertullo, who was in town from San Diego, Calif. On Monday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order pardoning more than 1,500 people charged in connection to the riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. That includes people charged with assaulting a police officer, among other things. Vertullo said she supported his decision. “This is a politically motivated incident. I think a majority of the people who have been arrested and tried, convicted or not convicted was a sham and should never have happened,” she said. “Whether someone agrees with my point of view or not, they have the right to feel that without prejudice or fear of legal action taken against them.” D.C. Councilmember Phil Mendelson is strongly against the pardons. Biden gives presidential pardon to DC, Maryland, Virginia men “If we support our law enforcement, we don’t pardon people who assault police officers. To me that’s the primary concern,” said Mendelson. He noted that several officers died by suicide following the riot and that more than 100 officers were injured that day. “There was [a] police officer who had a heart attack during the event. There were numerous police officers that were speared with flagpoles, maced,” he said. “It’s just shocking. That kind of attack on our police.  And that can’t be forgiven.” Among the injured officers was former Metropolitan Police Department Officer Michael Fanone, who was attacked by half a dozen people on Jan. 6. Former Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn, who protected the Capitol that day, has been an outspoken critic of Trump and his rhetoric. In a text, he stated, “There is nothing new to say. Donald Trump said he was gonna do this years ago. Us officers have been out here trying our hardest to get people to car. It’s unfortunate that it didn’t work out.”