Every year, millions of Americans and tourists from around the world visit the U.S. Capitol. If you’ve ever had an opportunity to visit, you’ll know that they have “The Hall of Statues.”

There are 100 statues. Every state gets to choose two state heroes to represent themselves. For example, Alabama has a statue of author Helen Keller. Nebraska has a statue of civil rights leader Chief Standing Bear. California has former President Ronald Reagan, and Washington, D.C. has Frederick Douglass.

Guess which statues are standing in the Rotunda for Mississippi right now? Jefferson Davis and JZ George. These old symbols of hate must come down everywhere.

You know about Jefferson Davis, so I’ll tell you a little bit about JZ George. But first, will you take my survey to let me know which Mississippi hero should replace these bygone, hateful statues? [[link removed]]

JZ George was a senator who was the author of the 1892 Mississippi Constitution. This set of laws was the precursor to Jim Crow. It dismantled Reconstruction in Mississippi completely. It disenfranchised Black Mississippians, eliminated human rights, and fostered segregation.

After the Civil War, Black Mississippians had economic power, voting rights, and citizenship. They used their majority to elect African-Americans to office up and down the ballot. Mississippi had Black mayors, sheriffs, congressmen, and senators — including Senator Hiram Revels, the first-ever Black member of Congress in American history.

Then the 1892 Constitution came and obliterated all of that. And the guy who wrote and passed it is being honored in the United States capitol rotunda right now.

We’ve got to replace the statues of Jefferson Davis and JZ George in the U.S. Capitol, and the people ought to have a say in it. Take my survey and let me know: Who should replace the confederate statues in the U.S. capitol? [[link removed]]

TAKE THE SURVEY [[link removed]]

From BB King to Fannie Lou Hamer, Medgar Evers to William Faulker, there are so many Mississippi heroes who are much more representative of the state we can become. For years I’ve had a slogan: #DownWithJZUpWithBB. I am referring, of course, to BB King — father of the Blues.

BB King is my choice — who are yours? Let me know, and tell your friends and family too. We’ll tabulate the winners and get back to you soon. [[link removed]]

— Mike

P.S. Our mid-month fundraising deadline is TONIGHT at midnight. As our campaign ramps up into summer, it’s never been more important to make benchmark deadlines like this. Can I count on you to pitch in to grow our campaign? Even $5 will make a difference. [[link removed]]

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Paid for by Mike Espy for U.S. Senate
Mike Espy for U.S. Senate
4450 Old Canton Rd, Suite 205
Jackson, MS 39211
United States
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