Panel approves model of Billy Graham statue for US Capitol
A North Carolina legislative committee has approved a model of a statue honoring the late Rev. Billy Graham to replace one of a former governor and white supremacist who currently represents the state in the U.S. Capitol's National Statuary Hall.
Posted — UpdatedThe Legislature’s Statuary Hall Selection Committee on Wednesday approved the model of the Southern Baptist minister created by Charlotte-based sculptor Chas Fagan, The Charlotte Observer reported.
A congressional committee will hold a final vote on the model.
Each state is allowed two statues to represent it in the hall, and the statue of Graham would replace that of Charles Aycock, a governor who also led white supremacist campaigns at the turn of the 20th century. Aycock's statue has represented North Carolina in the hall for nearly 90 years.
“When people from all over the country and all over the world walk through Washington and say, North Carolina has two choices to be in here, what do we want them to be?” The newspaper quoted the Republican representative as saying.
The statue of Aycock would likely be moved to his birthplace in Wayne County, according to Garrett Dimond, North Carolina General Assembly attorney.
It was not immediately clear whether the process has begun to replace the statue of Vance.
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