March 29, 2024
Annapolis, US 39 F

Governor Hogan calls for immediate removal of the Roger B. Taney statue

Roger B. Taney at the Statehouse

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has called for the removal of the Roger B. Taney statue that is housed on the grounds of the Maryland State House.  Taney, as a Supreme Court Justice, was responsible for the Dred Scott decision which stated that the movement to end slavery was not in line with the Constitution. Many believe this decision was one of the key factors in the start of the Civil War.

The decision, in part, read:

“It is difficult at this day to realize the state of public opinion in regard to that unfortunate race which prevailed in the civilized and enlightened portions of the world at the time of the Declaration of Independence, and when the Constitution of the United States was framed and adopted; but the public history of every European nation displays it in a manner too plain to be mistaken. They had for more than a century before been regarded as beings of an inferior order, and altogether unfit to associate with the white race, either in social or political relations, and so far unfit that they had no rights which the white man was bound to respect.”

Governor Larry Hogan today released the following statement regarding the Justice Roger B. Taney statue on the grounds of the Maryland State House:

“As I said at my inauguration, Maryland has always been a state of middle temperament, which is a guiding principle of our administration. While we cannot hide from our history – nor should we – the time has come to make clear the difference between properly acknowledging our past and glorifying the darkest chapters of our history. With that in mind, I believe removing the Justice Roger B. Taney statue from the State House grounds is the right thing to do, and we will ask the State House Trust to take that action immediately.”

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