Black Women Urge Congress to Move Forward with Renaming Military Bases Currently Named for Confederates

Statement of In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda

WASHINGTON — The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) awaits reconciliation of the Senate and House versions of the bill. While both chambers require military bases named after confederate officers be renamed, Trump has threatened to veto the bill if it includes that mandate. In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda released the following statement urging Congress to stand strong in the face of Trump’s racism:

“We urge the House and the Senate to move forward with removing the names of confederates officers, who were traitors to the United States,  from military bases. Failing to remove the names of men who fought to keep Black people enslaved dishonors the 43 percent of active members of the military who are people of color. They put their lives on the line to serve and protect the United States; the least Congress can do is to stop honoring confederates and rename the bases, preferably naming them for people of color who have served.

“Both the House and Senate agree that the bases should be renamed. Congress must not be cowed by Trump’s veto threat. Surely our elected officials can muster the courage to stand up to a lame duck president who has done nearly as much to stoke racism and hatred as the confederates he seeks to continue to honor. Members of Congress must respect Black members of the military by voting to rename the bases immediately.”

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In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda is a national-state partnership focused on lifting up the voices of Black women leaders at the national and regional levels in our fight to secure reproductive justice for all women, femmes and girls. Our eight strategic partners are Black Women for Wellness, Black Women’s Health Imperative, New Voices for Reproductive Justice, SisterLove, Inc. SisterReach, SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW, The Afiya Center and Women With A Vision.