Pingree, Larsen, Stanton Lead 70+ Members in Demanding Trump Remove Name from Building, Reverse Illegal Renaming

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), the top Democrat on the Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees the Kennedy Center, Congressman Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), and Congressman Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.) are leading more than 70 of their colleagues in Congress in calling on President Trump to reverse the illegal renaming effort and remove his name from the building immediately. The Kennedy Center is a national cultural institution and living memorial to President John F. Kennedy established by Congress, "and no board vote nor social media post has the legal authority to change the name without an act of Congress," the members wrote.

They also cited firsthand accounts from ex-officio members of the board, like Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), who were muted on the call and not given the opportunity to voice their opposition to the name change. "This decision was not reached by consensus and is a clear case of censorship," they said.

"For more than 50 years, the Kennedy Center has stood, as intended by Congress, as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, who was a fierce champion of the arts and of free expression," they wrote. "In contrast, your administration's takeover earlier this year has already deeply damaged the Center's reputation, leading to tanking ticket sales and cancelled performances. Audiences are being driven away and the livelihoods of the artists and workers who make the Center great are in danger."

"We strongly condemn the Administration's insistence on sullying President Kennedy's legacy by further politicizing the Center," the Members said. "We'll be working to block this disgraceful renaming effort at every possible opportunity and restore the Kennedy Center's rightful place as our nation's cultural center without the burden of vanity projects or political influence."

The letter is available HERE.

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