Starr King Statue in Capitol Statuary Hall: Action Needed

The following is quoted from the Pacific Central District's weekly email, written by the District Executive, Cilla Raughley. Hurray for Cilla, and for Senator Debra Bowen.

The plaque on the sarcophagus of Thomas Starr King reads, “Apostle of liberty, humanitarian, Unitarian, minister, who in the Civil War bound California to the Union and led her to excel all other states in support of the United States Sanitary Commission, predecessor to the American Red Cross. His statue, together with that of Father Junipero Serra, represents California in the national capitol. His name is borne by a Yosemite peak. ‘A man to match our mountains.’”

Our September 4, 2006 issue of PCD Currents reported on the California Legislature’s vote to replace the statue of Thomas Starr King with one of Ronald Regan in the US Capitol Hall of Statues. We now have a welcomed update. California State Senator Debra Bowen, who is also a member of the UU Church of Santa Monica and currently running for Secretary of State, is working to revisit this vote (which was not unanimous as reported in the press–she voted in opposition).

Bowen notes, “...it was not possible to replace statues in the National Statuary Hall until recently, (and so) California has no process for making that determination. The Senate Joint Resolution that was used to authorize this change is more commonly used for internal legislative business, or for non-binding resolutions. Because of the manner in which Senate Joint Resolution 3 was taken up, there was no advance notice that the measure would come up for a vote on August 31. There was no opportunity for anyone to discuss the proposal to replace one of California’s two representatives in National Statuary Hall–statues that have stood for 75 years.”

Bowen is claiming this issue is one that should be discussed publicly, and that the statue may not be removed until (1) the governor signs a letter to the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress requesting the changes, and (2) that the Joint Committee approves it. She has made a formal request to Governor Schwarzenegger that he not sign such a letter without first establishing a public process for discussion.

Bowen is asking something of all of us as well. She is asking that we each contact the Governor, the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress, and our two California representatives to that committee. Let’s do it. Today. (Letters from our subscribers who live in other states are welcomed as well! Let them know the whole country is watching.) Special thanks to the UU Legislative Ministry of CA for keeping us all informed! I will spell out all links below for ease of use for our newsletter editors.

The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor, State of California
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone (916) 445- 2841
Fax (916) 445-4633
Email on website www.govmail.ca.g ov

Joint Committee on the Library of Congress
1309 LHOB
Washington, D.C. 20515- 6157
Phone (202) 225-8281
Email on website www.clerk.house.gov/committee/index.html

Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren
102 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone (202) 225-3072
Fax (2020)225- 3336
email on website www.house.gov/lofgren/emailform.shtml

Congresswoman Juanita Millender- McDonald
2445 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone (202) 225-7924
Fax (202) 225- 7926

Additional information about Thomas Starr King
--www.sksm.edu/about/thomas_starr_king.php
--www.uua.org/uuhs/duub/articles/thoma sstarrking.html
--http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Starr_King

Additional information about the sculptor, Haig Patigian
www.askart.com/askart/p/haig_patigia n/haig_patigian.aspx

Additional information about the National Statuary Hall
www.aoc.gov/ cc/art/nsh

Contact Debra Bowen
(916) 651- 4028
email senator.bowen@sen.ca.gov