BROOKLYN, N.Y. — A New York Democratic congressman claimed Tuesday that anyone who insisted that a monument named after a figure of the Confederacy should not be removed supports slavery and lynching.
During a press conference in Brooklyn where Democrats called on the U.S. Army to rename two streets named after Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson at Fort Hamilton Base, New York Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries accused those who did not support their cause of being advocates of “white supremacy.”
“We will not rest until every single shrine to the Confederacy in this borough in this city and in this country, has been buried never to be seen again,” Jeffries said after fellow New York Democratic Rep. Yvette Clark suggested the statues should be in museums.
Jeffries went on to say, “I’m no historian, but what should be clear to everybody is that the Civil War is over. White supremacy lost and the only thing we’re here to discuss is an unconditional surrender.
“There is no room for shrines to the Confederacy,” he added. “Robert E. Lee was a traitor to the United States. Stonewall Jackson—a traitor to the United States of America. Now those who choose to defend shrines to the Confederacy like to make the argument that they are simply trying to respect heritage and tradition.”
The congressman continued, “Here’s a question that many of us are asking: What tradition are you trying to defend? Is it slavery, rape, kidnap, lynching, treason?”
Jeffries noted, “The answer is all of the above and it is all unacceptable. It’s also unacceptable that we have a birther in chief as president of the United States who instead of trying to bring the country together has chosen to fan the flames of racial hatred. There is no room in this country to embrace neo-Nazis—no room to embrace the KKK—no room the embrace the alt right. And we’re determined to stand up to this president and to any individual in this administration who will play footsie and provide aid and comfort to the white supremacy movement in America.”
Lee and Jackson were both posted at Fort Hamilton in 1840, 20 years prior to the Civil War. Rep. Clarke previously asked for the renaming of the streets in her Brooklyn district but the Army denied her request. (RELATED: NY Dems To Protest Against Confederate Street Names)
“The Army claims that changing these street names would be divisive. Imagine that. We strongly disagree. It’s currently divisive. We believe the name symbolize a continuing effort to divide our nation by race—an effort that unfortunately has been joined by the man that occupies the White House,” she said at the presser. “We believe instead in a form of reconciliation that honors the dignity of all members of our civil society and here therefore we have introduced honoring real patriots act 2017 to require such changes at all bases in the United States of America.”
