Frederick Douglass statue to be moved to the US Capitol

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The U.S. House of Representatives on Monday night approved a resolution that will move the bust of Frederick Douglass to the Capitol, making him only the third African-American to be so honored. The other two: Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Sojourner Truth. There are 180 busts on display at the Capitol.

The bill, H.R. 6336, was sponsored by Republican congressman Dan Lundgren of California, and cosponsored by Democrat Eleanor Holmes Norton, who represents the District of Columbia. A similar resolution was introduced in June by Democratic New York Sen. Chuck Schumer.

On Monday, Norton hailed the introduction of the bill, writing on her House website:

“I know that residents are as gratified as I am to see the House considering a bill allowing the District’s Frederick Douglass statue to be moved into the U.S. Capitol,” Norton said. “The city was so intent on having the Douglass statue here that it commissioned the statue and put it on display at One Judiciary Square. The statue would be placed alongside statues of other distinguished Americans and will be only the third statue or bust of an African American in the Capitol. This placement will be a fitting tribute to one of the nation’s most important human rights heroes.”