Democratic Rep. Al Green of Texas is urging the Senate to rename the office building that bears the late Sen. Richard Russell’s (D-GA) moniker, The Hill reported. Green noted that Russell's segregationist bent was problematic and thus necessitates the change.
Green said that the existing name "sends a powerful signal about the kind of leadership and principles our country holds in high esteem," the Texas Democrat wrote in a letter sent to every Senator. "These symbols should inspire a vision of liberty and justice for all, not the glorification of a person who fought to deny basic rights to millions of Americans and to entrench white supremacy in our democracy,” he added.
Russell served in the upper chamber from 1933 until 1971 when he died. Shortly after his death, the Senate renamed the "Old Senate Office Building" to honor Russell in a vote that went 99-1 in favor of doing so.
Like many Democrats of his time, Russell was vehemently opposed to the Civil Rights Movement and later called the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the "separate but equal" precedent in public school policy a "flagrant abuse of judicial power and a violation of states' rights." Shockingly, Russell joined other Southern senators in the "Southern Manifesto," which sought to reverse the court's decision to desegregate public schools.
Russell would eventually change his tune in 1964 when the Civil Rights Act passed urging people to "comply with the law of the land." Still, the fact that he held such reprehensible views is compelling Green to make sure his name is removed from the building.
This is not the first time Green has initiated this action in the Senate. He tried similar initiatives in July 2020, February 2022, and in June of this year. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has also attempted a name change and introduced a 2018 resolution to rename the building after GOP Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who died that year.
Green is not asking for it to be named after McCain or anyone else, but rather that the building return to its original designation until a "worthy successor" is found. "This clarion call is not an attempt to erase history, but an effort to ensure that our prominent public spaces reflect our best ideals, not our darkest actions," Green said.
"Continuing to honor racist Senator Russell in the very halls where he obstructed civil rights legislation is an affront to all who believe we cannot glorify racism. It is long past time for the Senate to remove this racist symbol of national shame," he added.
While Green is trying to change the name of a building, his other antics have made more headlines during his time in Congress. He was censured after interrupting President Donald Trump's address to the joint session of Congress earlier this year.
Green is prone to theatrics, but he made waves during Trump's speech by interrupting the president in his first address to lawmakers. Even 10 Democrats joined in to censure Green as many denounced his actions, Fox News reported.
"Al Green's childish outburst exposed the chaos and dysfunction within the Democrat party since President Trump's overwhelming win in November and his success in office thus far. It is not surprising that 198 Democrats refused to support Green's censure, given their history of radical, inflammatory rhetoric fueled by Trump Derangement Syndrome," said House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) at the time.
Of course, Green was thrown out of the joint session, and Democrats later sang "We Shall Overcome" when the censure was being introduced. Green's antics have continued as he attempted to impeach Trump several times and is at it once again.
"There will be articles of impeachment filed before the Christmas break, this I will pledge to you," Green said on Thursday, according to The Hill. The Texas Democrat has tried this before, but he keeps getting accolades from his fellow leftists each time he does it which is likely what spurs him to continue the effort.
The issue of whether to keep historical names and monuments continues and is an important conversation to have. While Green may have a point since Russell was a more contemporary lawmaker who held views antithetical to American values today, it still seems like another stunt from a Washington, D.C. swamp dweller who will do anything for attention.
