The US Capitol is set to welcome two new iconic figures as statues of Daisy Bates and Johnny Cash will replace those of Uriah M. Rose and James Paul Clarke in the National Statuary Hall. Bates, a civil rights journalist and activist known for mentoring the Little Rock Nine, and Cash, the legendary country music icon, were chosen as replacements for the century-old statues of Rose and Clarke.
The decision to replace the statues was made in April 2019 by then-Gov. Asa Hutchinson, with many, including Clarke's great-great-grandson, Democratic state Sen. Clarke Tucker, advocating for the change due to the controversial backgrounds of Rose and Clarke. Rose had remained loyal to Confederate Arkansas during the Civil War, while Clarke had made statements supporting white supremacy.
Bates, who grew up in Huttig and later became a key civil rights advocate in Little Rock, and Cash, a native of Kingsland who returned to Arkansas for significant performances, were chosen to represent the state in the US Capitol. The statues were unveiled during a ceremony organized by House Speaker Mike Johnson.
The sculptors of the new statues, Benjamin Victor for Bates and Kevin Kresse for Cash, were selected through a national competition. Victor, who was inspired by Bates' fearlessness, incorporated symbols like a red rose and an NAACP pin on her statue. Kresse included a Bible and Cash's signature guitar on his statue, symbolizing Cash's impactful career.
The replacements of Confederate statues in the US Capitol are part of a broader effort to acknowledge and celebrate figures who have contributed positively to American history. The new statues of Bates and Cash stand as symbols of resilience, advocacy, and cultural influence, representing a shift towards honoring individuals who have made significant contributions to society.
