Support for H.R. 3005, Legislation to Remove Hate from the United States Capitol
Today, the House of Representatives is considering legislation introduced by Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) to remove symbols of hate from the United States Capitol building. H.R. 3005 will replace the bust of Maryland native Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney, who wrote the majority opinion in the Dred Scott v. Sanford decision, with one of Justice Thurgood Marshall, the first African American to serve on the Supreme Court and a champion of civil rights. H.R. 3005 would also remove several statues of those who perpetuated and supported slavery and segregation in this country, along with statues or busts of those who served voluntarily in the Confederate States of America from public display in the U.S. Capitol.
Statues of individuals who perpetuated racism, slavery, and sedition should not be honored in the halls of Congress. Take a look at the support for H.R. 3005 throughout Maryland:
Speaker Adrienne A. Jones, Maryland House of Delegates:
"The Confederacy continues to represent a divide – a divide in our country, a divide among races, and a divide between those who fight for freedom and those who wish to reject it. The Confederate symbols have meaning for those that they exclude, deny, ostracize and hurt – particularly when they are highlighted in the seat of American democracy. I am proud that Maryland has a Congressman like Leader Hoyer who will take on these issues head on and look forward to working together to ensure that every Confederate reference is removed from the nation's Capitol."
Willie Flowers, President of the NAACP Maryland State Conference:
"The passage of H. R. 3005 is welcome news to all who know the history of white supremacy in the United States and have fought for justice. Removing all symbols and statues of despicable Americans is a positive step to show that physical structures on federal land are being dismantled with the hope that we replace them with education and resources so that we never return to such a past that legalized hatred and bias. The NAACP of Maryland applauds the purpose of H. R. 3005 and supports its passage."
Michelle Wilson, President-elect, The Alliance of Black Women Attorneys of Maryland:
"The Alliance of Black Women Attorneys of Maryland, Inc. ('the Alliance') supports HR 3005 and the removal of racist symbols and statues from the Capitol building. While we cannot erase our history, we as a society should not continue to support and celebrate symbols of slavery, segregation and sedition. The Alliance looks forward to seeing the statue of Justice Thurgood Marshall in the Capitol building, as he represents the strength, hope and courage of the American people."
Josephine Mourning, President/Chairman, Prince George's County Maryland Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference:
"We cannot move forward with a better future when we exhort the sins of the past. Prince Georges County Maryland Chapter of the SCLC strongly supports H.R. 3005 and the removal of the bust of Roger B. Taney and sever