[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15729]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF A BILL TO REMOVE THE STATUE OF CONFEDERATE GENERAL 
                              ALBERT PIKE

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 5, 2017

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce a bill to require the 
removal of a statue of Confederate General Albert Pike, which is 
currently located on federal land near Judiciary Square in the District 
of Columbia. This statue was authorized by Congress in 1898, and was 
paid for by both federal and private funds--the Freemasons, of which 
Pike was a member, donated the majority of the money needed to build 
and install the statue in 1901. I oppose tearing down Confederate 
statues, because I believe they should be moved to more appropriate 
settings, like museums, to avoid erasing an important part of history 
from which Americans must continue to learn. However, Pike was a 
Confederate general who served dishonorably and was forced to resign in 
disgrace. Soldiers under his command were found to have mutilated the 
bodies of Union soldiers, and he was ultimately imprisoned after his 
fellow officers reported that he had been misappropriating funds. 
Adding to the dishonor of taking up arms against the United States, 
Pike dishonored even his Confederate military service. He certainly has 
no claim to be memorialized in the nation's capital. Even those who do 
not want Confederate statues removed will have to justify according 
Pike any honor considering his history.
  After meeting with the Freemasons, I believe that the best course of 
action is to remove the statue and find a more appropriate place for 
it. The Freemasons themselves have said they ``will support an action . 
. . to remove the statue forthwith so that it shall not serve as a 
source of contention or strife for the residents of our community.'' 
The Mayor of the District of Columbia and the D.C. Council also support 
the removal of the statue.
  My bill clarifies that no federal funds will be used to take the Pike 
statue down. I urge my colleagues to support this important 
legislation.

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