The House Votes To Remove Confederate Statues In The U.S. Capitol

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This file photo shows the marble bust of Chief Justice Roger Taney that is currently displayed in the Old Supreme Court Chamber in the U.S. Capitol. The House voted Tuesday on a bill that would remove the bust from public display.





J. Scott Applewhite/AP



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J. Scott Applewhite/AP





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A statue of Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States from 1861-1865, is on display in Statuary Hall inside the U.S. Capitol.





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Politics
Top General Defends Studying Critical Race Theory In The Military

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., used his debate time Wednesday to condemn critical race theory, a scholarly approach to studying American institutions through the lens of race and racism that has been rebranded by many Republicans as a stand-in for any conversation about race or the role racism continues to play in American society. McCarthy said he supports the removal of Confederate statues and repeatedly noted that the racist lawmakers and leaders they depict were then members of the Democratic Party.

Other Republican lawmakers noted their support for the removal of statues but also their frustration over the legislative process.

«My opposition to this bill isn’t because of the goal that we’re trying to achieve, but it’s the way that the majority continues to skirt procedure in this body, said Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Ga. «For the second consecutive Congress, this bill was rushed to the floor without a hearing or a markup in the Committee on House Administration.

Several Republicans made similar process complaints about the legislation that established Juneteenth as an official public holiday.

Alabama Republican Rep. Mo Brooks previewed his ‘no’ vote on the bill in a statement decrying «cancel culture and historical revisionism.

«I support federalism and a state’s right to decide for itself who it should honor. As such, I will proudly vote ‘No’ on H.R. 3005. Alabama, not New Yorkers, Californians, or anyone else, should decide who we wish to honor in Alabama’s contribution to the National Statuary Collection, the statement read.

Tuesday’s vote comes nearly a year after the House approved a similar resolution with support from 72 Republicans, and which ultimately stalled without support from Senate Republicans.