Illinois House task force is reviewing statues and other monuments around the Capitol

Posted on April 22, 2021
Statues of Stephen Douglas and Pierre Menard, who had ties to slavery, have already departed the Capitol’s front lawn. (Dave Dahl/WJBC)

 

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – At a time when some places are renaming schools, a new Illinois House task force examining statues and monuments on the Capitol Complex is getting to work.

A University of Illinois lecturer in landscape architecture, Jen Thomas, noted abolitionist Frederick Douglass’ criticism of President Lincoln. “Douglass said Lincoln was ‘preeminently the white man’s president, entirely devoted to the welfare of the white man,’” said Thomas, although it’s hard to imagine anybody going through with removing or altering any of the Lincolnia around the capital city.

State Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago), the committee’s chair, said the idea is not to demolish any monuments, but instead perhaps move them and discuss them.

Statues of Stephen Douglas and Pierre Menard, who had ties to slavery, have already departed the Capitol’s front lawn.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

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