Norton Bill Authorizing Establishment of Memorial for Enslaved Persons Passes House

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced that the House today passed her Enslaved Voyages Memorial Act, which would authorize the establishment of a memorial on federal land in the District of Columbia to honor enslaved persons. The memorial, to be established by the Georgetown African American Historic Landmark Project and Tour, would honor enslaved persons' presence, celebrate their contributions to history, and recognize their resilience and fortitude. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the bill in the Senate.

"The memorial my bill authorizes will exist as a powerful marker of truth-telling and remembrance, and I am proud to have gotten it passed in the House," Norton said. "Thank you to Senator Cory Booker for introducing the companion bill. Let us honor the personhood of these individuals, who were repeatedly assumed to have none, so that they will never be forgotten."

"I commend the House for passing the Enslaved Voyages Memorial Act, which would authorize a memorial to honor the millions of enslaved Africans who were forcibly transported across the Atlantic and to celebrate their immense contributions to the United States," said Senator Booker. "I urge the Senate to take up the measure so that we can send it to President Biden's desk for his signature."

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