Biden to Headline Douglass Statue Unveiling

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today said she appreciated the Congressional leadership for inviting Vice President Joe Biden to speak at the unveiling ceremony of D.C.'s Frederick Douglass statue in the Capitol's Emancipation Hall on Wednesday, June 19, 2013. The ceremony marks the culmination of Norton's bill, which she fought for through repeated Congresses, to allow the District of Columbia, like the states, to have its own statue in the United States Capitol. When it was announced that President Obama would be out of town and therefore unable to accept the invitation to speak at Wednesday's ceremony, Norton also called the Vice President to ask that he deliver the remarks.

"With the President in Europe at the G8 summit, I am particularly pleased that the Vice President will speak at the unveiling ceremony of our city's first statue to join the states in the Capitol," said Norton. "After years of work, not only will our residents be represented in the Capitol with a statue, like the 50 states, but also the presence of the Vice President shows the importance of the occasion to the nation and the District, as well as the support of the White House for equality for D.C. residents."

Earlier today, Norton announced that she will host a special event for D.C. residents in the Capitol at a time and date to be determined, following Wednesday's Congressional unveiling ceremony, which is an invitation-only event of the Congressional leadership.

Published: June 17, 2013