More than a dozen statues are on display at freedom plaza in Downtown D.C.
The Department of the Interior says it’s a part of the celebrations for the country’s 250th anniversary, but the installation comes with controversy. There are already hundreds of comments on social media surrounding one of the men honored with a statue — Caesar Rodney, a founding father and known owner of enslaved people.
Jim and Linda from Tennessee came to the nation’s capital for Memorial Day Weekend and to take in some sights ahead of the country’s 250th birthday.
“Just been seeing all of the sights and checking things out and really enjoying it, but like she said this 250th is special to us, because we’re not gonna be here for the 300th,” Jim said. “[…] Seeing all of the statues and all the discussion about the statues and stuff like that, it’s interesting you know.”
“It’s emotional, it’s very emotional, yes it is,” Linda said. “Anything that got to do with the military and things of that sort, it has my heart.”
As the nation prepares for the 250th anniversary, in the heart of the district at Freedom Plaza now sits at least 13 statues.The bronze sculptures are set up around the plaza.
At least one of the statues includes Rodney. From Delaware, he served during the American Revolutionary War and is known for his overnight horseback ride to Philadelphia to cast his independence vote.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced that Rodney’s statue was installed on Freedom Plaza as a commitment to celebrate the nation’s history.
“When we talk about that period of time, there are aspects of it that are meant to be celebrated, right, but then there are aspects of it that don’t necessarily, that everyone wasn’t being celebrated,” said Treveene Taylor, a Virginia resident. “There’s a dichotomy there. There’s a lot of conflict there.”
Rodney’s role as an owner of hundreds of enslaved people ultimately led to his statue being taken down in Wilmington, Delaware, after nationwide protests and conversations on race in 2020.
“This may be a reflection of time but they can have a bigger perspective and add to it because I’m not a proponent of knocking things down, because I think all of these things represent a story, but just tell the whole thing and just add to it,” Taylor said.
For the last couple of years, the statue has been stored away at a facility that stores art and other high-end objects.
But this isn’t the first time a statue that was taken down in 2020 and reinstated. Last year, the National Park Service (NPS) announced the statue depicting Confederate General Albert Pike was renovated and was reinstalled in judiciary square after demonstrators toppled and burned the statue in 2020.
News4 reached out to NPS to find out who the other 12 statues at Freedom Plaza honor. Right now, fencing and tarps prevent the public from seeing the other name plates.
News4 asked NPS if there was a selection process to determine who would be honored and how long the statues would remain at freedom plaza. News4 is still waiting for a response.
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