Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersAugust 21, 2017

Democratic state Sen. Perry Thurston has filed legislation to make historic educator Mary McLeod Bethune the replacement for Confederate Army Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith as one of Florida’s two statutes in the Capitol’s National Statuary Hall in Washington D.C.. The statute of Smith is definitely its way out, thanks to Senate Bill 310, which was passed by […]

Jim RosicaAugust 17, 2017

Ed. Note — This story, originally published Wednesday, was updated Thursday night. Tallahassee Mayor and Democratic candidate for governor Andrew Gillum has called for the removal of a Confederate monument in front of the Historic Capitol. “In the wake of Charlottesville, people all around the country are grappling with how we deal with our nation’s history […]

Mitch PerryAugust 15, 2017

(UPDATED) South Florida Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz wants the Florida Legislature to convene for a special session to deal with a Confederate monument that represents the state in the U.S. Capitol. A bronze statue of Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith continues to sit in the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall, despite legislation passed during the 2016 […]

Jim RosicaJune 21, 2017

The General abides. With lawmakers taking no action this year, a bronze statue of a Confederate general representing Florida shall remain indefinitely in the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall. Two competing bills died this Legislative Session. One called for a likeness of educator and civil-rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune to replace the statue of Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith. […]

Michael MolineApril 27, 2017

A resolution to depose Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith, CSA, from his place in the National Statuary Hall collection and install Mary McLeon Bethune cleared the Senate Thursday on a voice vote. SCR 1360, by Perry Thurston, went to the House, where its future was uncertain. Smith is one of two historical figures whose likeness stands in […]

Michael MolineApril 16, 2017

Representative Scott Plakon may have succeeded where a devotee of Southern Heritage failed in blocking the replacement of Confederate Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith as one of Florida’s two representatives in the National Statuary Hall collection. Seber Newsome III of Save Southern Heritage appeared before the Senate Appropriations Committee last week to oppose sending Smith packing. It was a lost […]

Jim RosicaApril 6, 2017

Former and current black lawmakers took to the Old Capitol steps Thursday to call for a likeness of educator and civil-rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune to replace a statue of a Confederate general now in the U.S. Capitol. Led by Sen. Perry Thurston, a Fort Lauderdale Democrat, and surrounded by alumni members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha […]

Jim RosicaJune 23, 2016

Alas, former Florida Gator quarterback Tim Tebow will not be immortalized in marble or bronze anytime soon. At least not in the U.S. Capitol. Nor will Miami Herald columnist and novelist Carl Hiaasen, adult film star and Florida native Riley Reid and former Gov. “Jeb Bush‘s political career (not him, his career).” They were among nominees proposed by members of […]

Brendan FarringtonJune 22, 2016

Either the African-American woman who founded what’s now Bethune-Cookman University, the founder of Publix supermarkets or the woman credited with saving the Everglades will replace a Confederate general’s statue that represents Florida in the U.S. Capitol. The three Floridians were selected Wednesday by a committee that reviewed 130 recommendations made by the public. The Legislature […]

Jim RosicaJune 21, 2016

As interesting as who’s on the list to be the subject of Florida’s next statue in the U.S. Capitol may be who’s not on the list. Last week, the Department of State released 129 names submitted by the public as recommendations for a new statue in the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall. State lawmakers will make the final decision. […]

Tag: Mary McLeod Bethune

Perry Thurston files bill to put Mary McLeod Bethune’s statue in Capitol

Andrew Gillum: Get rid of Capitol’s Confederate memorial

Debbie Wasserman Schultz calls for special session to replace Confederate statue

With no legislative action, Confederate statue remains in U.S. Capitol

Resolution to replace Confederate general with educator passes the Senate

Looks like that Confederate general will remain in Statuary Hall collection

Perry Thurston, others want Confederate statue issue resolved

Tim Tebow, others cut from replacement statue list

Florida now has three suggestions to replace Confederate statue

How state officials decided who made the cut for new statue