SPLC Action Fund Applauds U.S. House Vote to Remove Confederate Symbols in the 2021 Fiscal Year Appropriations Measures

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The SPLC Action Fund Chief of Staff Lecia Brooks released the following statement in response to the U.S. House of Representatives voting 224-189 on a package of appropriations bills that include provisions to restrict funds to the National Parks Service to purchase or display Confederate flags and to require the removal of all public displays of Confederate symbols. Provisions of the bill would also block funds for new construction projects on military installations named for Confederate generals unless there is a process in place to rename them. 

“We are encouraged that the House of Representatives has overwhelmingly taken a step forward in removing symbols from military installations and our national parks that glorify white supremacy and honor traitors to our country who fought to continue to enslave Black people.

“We applaud the continued leadership that members of the House have shown in addressing systemic racism and removing symbols of hate throughout our country. The SPLC Action Fund now urges the Senate to include these same provisions in their versions of these bills. It is long past time to remove these dehumanizing and oppressive displays and symbols from military installations and public spaces across the country.”