Senator Tom Cotton, R-Ark., has introduced a new bill aimed at enforcing stricter penalties for individuals who vandalize and deface statues on federal property. The Saving Treasured Artifacts Through Uniform Enforcement (STATUE) Act, if passed, would mandate minimum prison sentences for offenders.
The proposed legislation comes in response to a recent pro-Hamas rally in Washington, D.C., where statues were defaced by demonstrators. Senator Cotton emphasized the need for accountability, stating that any protester who defaces statues of America's heroes must face the full extent of the law.
Under the STATUE Act, individuals convicted of willfully injuring or destroying public monuments could face fines of at least $1,000 and imprisonment for a minimum of five years, up to a maximum of 10 years.
The rally outside the White House saw protesters vandalizing statues in Lafayette Square, including those of former President Andrew Jackson and Comte de Rochambeau. Messages supporting Hamas and advocating for the liberation of Gaza and Palestine were among those scrawled on the defaced statues.
Senator Cotton has called on the Department of Justice to investigate the incident, drawing parallels to the response to the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. He urged the DOJ to take decisive action against the vandals, emphasizing the importance of holding them accountable for their actions.
The proposed STATUE Act aims to deter future acts of vandalism and protect public monuments from damage. If enacted, it would send a strong message that such behavior will not be tolerated and will be met with severe consequences.
