Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) wrote to Mark Esper, Secretary of Defense, and Ryan McCarthy, Secretary of the Army, requesting the removal of any symbols honoring Confederate officers at the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, and the renaming of any buildings named in their honor.
“West Point is a globally revered institution – and as such, should be as inclusive and welcoming as possible to our cadets, servicemembers and West Point visitors. Honoring Americans who engaged in armed rebellion against the United States in support of racism and slavery does not reflect the values of the institution or our Army,” said Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney. “As a past member of the Board of Visitors and proud Representative for West Point and the Hudson Valley, I have a deep reverence for West Point and the West Point mission. Any symbol or building named to honor the Confederacy and its hateful rhetoric falls short of the institution’s principles and should be removed or renamed immediately.”
The United States Military Academy at West Point is located in New York’s 18th Congressional District.
Recently, Marine and Navy leadership have announced bans on the public display of the Confederate battle flag on Marine installations. Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy have expressed their support for renaming military bases named after Confederate Generals. Elected officials in states across the South have recently removed Confederate monuments.
Read the letter here