Letter to Mark T. Esper, Secretary of Defense and Ryan D. McCarthy, Secretary of the Army - Maloney Requests Army Removes Confederate Symbols at West Point

Letter

Dear Secretary Esper and Secretary McCarthy:

As members of Congress we are proud of the history and reputation of the United States Military Academy ("USMA" or "West Point"). It is because of that deep respect for the school and its mission, we believe we must correct the hurtful and outdated practice of honoring at West Point certain Americans who engaged in armed rebellion against the United States in support of racism and slavery. Today, there are a variety of USMA buildings and facilities named after Confederate generals and others who betrayed their Country during the Civil War. This should not be.

In recent days, Marine Corps Commandant General David Berger and Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Mike Gilday have both announced bans on the public display of the Confederate battle flag on Marine installations. Additionally, elected officials in Florida, Alabama, Indiana, and Kentucky have removed confederate monuments, including Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, who ordered the removal of a Robert E. Lee statue from the capitol in Richmond.

It goes without saying that we have the utmost respect for the work that you do, developing leaders of character, with a passion for service to our country. Included in these outstanding cadets are Black men and women ready to serve and we owe it to them to ensure that their learning and training environment is as welcoming and inclusive as possible. It is past time we make these changes that will move our country in the direction towards healing and reconciliation.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter and we look forward to assisting you in whatever fashion possible to remove these negative symbols from this revered institution.