Natasha Blakely, natasha.blakely@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, the White House announced an executive order demanding the Secretary of the Interior review and reinstate public monuments, statues, and memorials that were previously removed or updated to reflect a more inclusive and accurate accounting of history. The order also bans any monuments and other markers that might criticize colonial figures.
This executive order follows orders for the Department of Defense to purge their historical records of thousands of images, and the removal of mentions of women and members of the LGBTQ+ community from federal agency websites.
In response, Jackie Ostfeld, Sierra Club Outdoors for All campaign director, said:
“Public spaces, including monuments, are meant to be enjoyed by all. Our country’s public monuments and markers reflect our society’s present values and therefore are always evolving. The Trump administration’s recent order is another attempt to whitewash and erase history. This dangerous move dismisses years of community advocacy and collaboration to ensure our public lands and monuments tell a complete story and serve as welcoming and inclusive public spaces for all communities. We can acknowledge and understand our past without placing racist figures on a pedestal or enshrining derogatory terms into the names of our monuments and markers.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.