WASHINGTON, D.C. (NCC NEWS)—The House of Representatives approves legislation on Wednesday to remove statues from the United States Capitol.
The statues of men who were a part of the Confederacy, supported slavery, segregation and white supremacy are slated for removal according to the bill.
The bill was passed in a 305-113 vote.
It will replace Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney, author of Supreme Court’s 1857 Dred Scott opinion declaring African Americans could not be U.S. citizens. Taney’s bust will be replaced with one of Thurgood Marshall, the first Black Supreme Court Justice.
All Democrats supported the bill and 72 Republicans joined. The 113 no votes were all Republications.
The decision to remove the statues has been reviewed before. However, due to current events of nationwide protests for the Black Lives Matter movement lawmakers have rushed the decision.
Karen Bass, California Congresswoman spoke during the news conference and stated that her ancestors built the Capitol. But, the statues inside are the people who enslaved her ancestors.
“As a Black lawmaker, the presence of these statues represent an acceptance of white supremacy and racism, something we are fighting day in and day out to dismantle,” Bass said.
The statues symbolize actions protestors across the country are fighting to destroy.
“Their role in history should be remembered, but it should be accurately told,” Bass said when referring to Taney and the other bust that are required to be removed.
