RECOGNIZE IN THE U.S. CAPITOL ROTUNDA WOMEN WHO FOUGHT FOR FREEDOM

WHEREAS, visitors to the United States Capitol view the Rotunda, as this is the place where official tours begin; and

WHEREAS, the 11 statues of fighters for freedom on display in the Rotunda are all of men, which gives the impression that freedom fighting is limited to those of one gender; and

WHEREAS, a statue of Lucretia Mott, Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, three women who fought for freedom, has been hidden in the basement; and

WHEREAS, in 1995 the members of the United States Senate voted unanimously to move the statue to the Rotunda; and

WHEREAS, the members of the United States House of Representatives never had the opportunity to vote to move the statue on account of a decision by the Speaker of the House; and

WHEREAS, the American Federation of Teachers recognizes that moving the statue to the Rotunda is a means of acknowledging the contributions of women to America’s history:

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers petition that the statue be moved to the Rotunda; and

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers report the response of Congress on this issue.