House Republicans, led by Congressman Andrew Clyde, are urging the Pentagon to halt the planned removal of the Reconciliation Monument, also known as the Confederate Memorial, from Arlington National Cemetery. More than 40 GOP colleagues have signed a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, stating that the monument’s removal should be paused until Congress completes the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations process. They argue that the removal does not align with the original intent of Congress and could denigrate the delicate balance of powers outlined in the Constitution.
The letter emphasizes the memorial’s history and intended purpose, highlighting its authorization by Congress in 1900 and construction in 1906 to honor reconciliation after the Civil War. The bronze statue has been a part of Arlington National Cemetery, considered “America’s most sacred shrine,” for over a century. The call for removal has also received support from the descendants of the statue’s sculptor, Moses Jacob Ezekiel, who fought for the Confederacy. They argue that the statue glorifies the Confederacy and justifies racist Jim Crow laws.
