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July 2, 2020

Trump Backs Confederate Base Names as Monuments to Racism Continue to Fall 
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In Massachusetts, the Boston Art Commission voted Tuesday to remove a
copy of the "Emancipation Memorial" sculpture from public display. The
statue portrays an enslaved man kneeling at the feet of Abraham Lincoln.

In San Antonio, Texas, officials removed a statue of Christopher
Columbus Wednesday. A similar statue was removed from outside City Hall
in Ohio's capital city, Columbus, named after the 15th century Italian
mercenary.

In Georgetown, Delaware, city officials have removed an eight-foot-high
whipping post from outside the Sussex County Courthouse. Delaware was
the last U.S. state to carry out public floggings - as recently as 1952
- with a highly disproportionate number of African Americans receiving
the punishment.

Meanwhile, President Trump threatened this week to veto the National
Defense Authorization Act if it includes a provision to rename Fort
Bragg, Fort Lee and other military bases named after Confederate
leaders. On Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security said it has
set up a task force aimed at protecting monuments, memorials, statues
and federal facilities.


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