Congressional leaders have worked together to remove statues of those that reflect racist ideals and replace them with honoring pioneers who helped advance America.
In a House of Representatives vote, a bust of the Associate Justice Thurgood Marshallthe first black US Supreme Court Justice, to replace one of the chief justices who authored the racist Dred Scott decision of 1857, which ruled against black American citizenship.
According to Axios, the House of Representatives has passed legislation to remove the former Chief Justice’s marble bust Roger Taneyafter a vote to have it replaced with one by Marshall.
The vote caused the Congressional Joint Committee on the Library to remove Taney’s bust from public display and replace the statues near the entrance to the old Supreme Court Chamber in the Capitol.
I am pleased that a bust of Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Supreme Court Justice, whose commitment to civil rights and the advancement of our most marginalized communities, will be placed in the Capitol to represent the principles of democracy and freedom that we cherish today .
— James E Clyburn (@WhipClyburn) December 15, 2022
The law was reportedly passed in the Senate last week and is being prepared for submission to the President Joe Biden to sign the law.
According to Majority Leader, House Majority Leader Walls by H. Hoyer (MD) introduced legislation in March 2020 to remove the statue of Taney from display and commended Marshall for his efforts to move America forward.
I was proud to speak today on the House floor in support of Senate passing legislation on #RemoveHate by removing the statue of Dred Scott decision author Roger B. Taney from the Capitol and one of Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Supreme Court Justice, commissioned . pic.twitter.com/Vtm4Kynsu3
— Steny Hoyer (@LeaderHoyer) December 14, 2022
“A bust of Chief Justice Taney should not be displayed in a place of honor in our nation’s Capitol,” Hoyer said in a 2020 statement. “In Maryland, we have made the decision to remove a statue of Taney from the grounds of the State House , to reflect his nefarious contribution to the evil system of slavery and its defense, and we should do the same here. “We’re better than that,” as our late colleague said Elijah Cummings would say. It’s time to make it clear to visitors from across the nation and abroad that America celebrates advocates of inclusion and equality, not advocates of hate and injustice.”
Marshall was sworn in as the first black member of the US Supreme Court in October 1967.
BLACK COMPANY previously reported that the nation was celebrating the life of Marshall’s late wife, 94 years old Cecilia “Cissy” Suyat Marshall, who died on November 22nd.