Video: Kaine Statement Ahead of Unveiling of Barbara Rose Johns Statue in U.S. Capitol

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) released the following statement ahead of tomorrow’s unveiling ceremony of the Barbara Rose Johns statue at the U.S. Capitol:

“There is a line in the Book of Isaiah, ‘And a little child shall lead them,’ that reminds me of Barbara Rose Johns and the incredible bravery and leadership she displayed when she walked out of Moton High School in Farmville. I’m thrilled that millions of visitors to the U.S. Capitol, including many young people, will now walk by her statue and learn about her story. May she continue to inspire generations to stand up for equality and justice.”

In 1951, Barbara Rose Johns led her classmates in a strike to protest substandard conditions at Robert Russa Moton High School that led to legal action against Prince Edward County. That case became one of five that the U.S. Supreme Court reviewed in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka when it declared segregation unconstitutional.

Barbara Rose Johns was selected by the Commission on Historical Statues to replace the Robert E. Lee statue that was one of Virginia’s two statues in the U.S. Capitol. In 2020, Kaine watched the Robert E. Lee statue being removed from the Capitol.

Video Kaine recorded of the Robert E. Lee statue’s removal from the Capitol is available here.

As Lieutenant Governor, Kaine served on the commission that created the Virginia Civil Rights Memorial. When Kaine was Governor, he unveiled the Civil Rights Memorial featuring Barbara Rose Johns and others on Virginia Capitol Square in Richmond. Now, as Senator, Kaine looks forward to attending the unveiling of the new statue tomorrow.

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