Congressman Brown: "Hate Has No Place in our Ranks and Should Not Occupy a Place of Honor in our Armed Services."

Press Release

House Armed Services Vice Chair and 30-year Army veteran, Congressman Anthony G. Brown (MD-04) released the following statement on President Trump's refusal to rename military bases honoring Confederate leaders:

"Hate has no place in our ranks and should not occupy a place of honor in our armed services. The greatness of our military is in our diversity and the values and freedoms we fight to defend.

"Bases that continue to bear the names of Confederate soldiers and officers -- persons who wrongly fought to protect the institution of slavery and would have denied Black Americans from serving in the military -- are a reminder of that systemic oppression we continue to confront and damages the culture of inclusivity needed to accomplish the mission.

"Removing these names is another step in an honest accounting of our history and an expression that we continue to strive to form a more perfect union. The Commander in Chief's defense of racists, who betrayed their country and stood for disunion and oppression, is a slap in the face to the Black soldiers he leads and shows -- yet again -- his unfitness for duty."

The U.S. Army currently has 10 bases and facilities named after leaders of the Confederacy. Among them include: Edmund Rucker who was wounded and captured in the Battle of Nashville; Braxton Bragg who was considered one of the worst generals in the Civil War; John Bell Hood who led the only army to be completely destroyed in battle; George Pickett who graduated last in his class and led a disastrous charge at Gettysburg before being humiliated at the Battle of Five Forks; and Robert E. Lee who surrendered at Appomattox Court House.

The Confederacy lost the Civil War.

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