House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is sharing her views on whether or not protesters should be tearing down statues.
During her weekly press conference on Thursday, Pelosi was asked about her views it should be left to communities to decide if controversial statues are removed.
“People will do what they do,” Pelosi said, adding, “I do think that from a safety standpoint, it would be a good idea to have it taken down if the community doesn’t want it. I don’t know that it has to be a commission.”
She continued:
“I always say to young people … children who come to the Capitol, ‘When you look around, you see statues to people in Washington … monuments and the rest who we respect, Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, you know, heroes. They would want us to be talking about the future — your future — so everything we do here is about you. … They would want it to be about looking forward, not looking back.'”
“So let’s just think about what are the values, vision, the perspective that we enshrine … rather than having a big fight about was somebody worth it. We know they’re not worth it if they committed treason against the United States,” she added.
Watch the video below:
Reporter asking about Christopher Columbus statue in Baltimore: "Shouldn't that be done by a commission or the city council, not a mob in the middle of the night throwing it into a harbor?"
— The Hill (@thehill) July 9, 2020
Speaker Nancy Pelosi: "People will do what they do." pic.twitter.com/mlSUDIBZRv
Pelosi’s comments come as officials across the country are taking a look at statues of historical figures in their communities. In some instances, local leaders have taken action in an effort to take down statues of Confederate leaders.
However, in several cities, protesters have torn down statues of Christoper Columbus. Over the Fourth of July weekend, protesters in Baltimore tore down a statue of Columbus and threw it into the Inner Harbor.
Pelosi has called for the removal of statues of Confederate leaders in the Capitol.
Additionally, she pushed for the removal of portraits of former House speakers from the Capitol — which were subsequently taken down — as IJR reported.
While Pelosi did not denounce protesters tearing down statues, President Donald Trump has called for localities to protect them and signed an executive order to protect the monuments.
Additionally, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said he would introduce legislation that would cut off funding to states and cities that do not protect statues.