July 2, 2020
Washington, DC
Conservatives applaud President Donald Trump for issuing his June 26 “Executive Order on Protecting American Monuments, Memorials, and Statues and Combating Recent Criminal Violence.” The President’s unequivocal statement denounces recent nationwide assaults on revered American monuments such as the Lincoln Memorial, the World War II Memorial, statues of former Presidents Ulysses S. Grant and Andrew Jackson, and even military veterans and Christian leaders who worked to abolish slavery.
As stated in the Executive Order, “Many of the rioters, arsonists, and left-wing extremists who have carried out and supported these acts have explicitly identified themselves with ideologies – such as Marxism – that call for the destruction of the United States system of government.”
The document adds, “Individuals and organizations have the right to peacefully advocate for either the removal or the construction of any monument. But no individual or group has the right to damage, deface, or remove any monument by use of force.”
Citing several statutes, the Executive Order resolves to prosecute to the fullest extent permitted under federal law “any person or entity that destroys, damages, vandalizes, or desecrates a monument, memorial, or statue within the United States.” It also notes that some state and local governments “appear to have surrendered to mob rule, imperiling community safety, allowing for the wholesale violation of our laws, and privileging the violent impulses of the mob over the rights of law-abiding citizens.”
The Order directs the Attorney General to provide assistance to “State and local law enforcement authorities in connection with their investigations or prosecutions for the desecration of monuments, memorials, and statues, regardless of whether such structures are situated on Federal property.”
Accordingly, A.G. Barr has ordered the formation of a task force to take on the “antigovernment extremists” that have disrupted peaceful protests and sowed chaos and destruction.
Author Jarrett Stepman has quoted Abraham Lincoln, speaking as a young man in 1838, about the dangers of “mob law.” If rightful authorities allow a general state of lawlessness and “mobocractic spirit” to continue unrestrained, said Lincoln, the strongest bulwark of any Government . . . may effectually be broken down and destroyed.”
Presaging the present day, the future President Lincoln added, [W]henever the vicious portion of the population shall be permitted to gather in bands of hundreds and thousands, and burn churches, ravage and rob provision-stores, throw printing presses into rivers, shoot editors, and hang and burn obnoxious persons at pleasure, and with impunity; depend on it, this Government cannot last.”
The truth about American history, even with all its flaws, inspires patriotism. The responsibility to teach our history with honesty and respect, unfortunately, has been taken over by false historians who portray America as an evil society that must be destroyed.
This issue is not about monuments alone; it is about history, culture, and values that this generation must teach to our children and future generations. In two words: America Matters. Conservatives support principled, legal actions to restore peace, security, and freedom under the law, and oppose violence that widens social division and destroys history on our watch.
| The Honorable Edwin Meese III Attorney General President Ronald Reagan (1985-1988) |
Alfred S. Regnery Chairman, Conservative Action Project President, Republic Book Publishers |
| Myron Ebell Director, Center for Energy and Environment Competitive Enterprise Institute |
The Honorable Becky Norton Dunlop White House Advisor President Ronald Reagan (1981-1985) |
| The Honorable Morton C. Blackwell President The Leadership Institute |
Mary Vought Executive Director Senate Conservatives Fund |
| William L. Walton President Council for National Policy |
Christopher Malagisi Executive Director of Outreach Hillsdale College |
| The Honorable Bob McEwen U.S. House of Representatives Former Member, Ohio |
Jenny Beth Martin Chairman Tea Party Patriots Citizen Fund |
| Kelly J. Shackelford, Esq. Chairman, CNP Action, Inc. President and CEO, First Liberty Institute |
Thomas Fitton President Judicial Watch, Inc. |
| L. Brent Bozell, III Founder and President Media Research Center |
The Honorable J. Kenneth Blackwell Chairman Constitutional Congress, Inc. |
| The Honorable Donald Paul Hodel U.S. Secretary of Energy (1982-1985) U.S. Secretary of Interior (1985-1989) |
The Honorable Jim DeMint Chairman, Conservative Partnership Institute Member, US Senate (SC 2005-2013) |
| Ed Corrigan Vice Chairman, Conservative Action Project President, Conservative Partnership Institute |
Wesley Denton COO Conservative Partnership Institute (CPI) |
| Rachel Bovard Senior Director of Policy Conservative Partnership Institute (CPI) |
Lisa B. Nelson Chief Executive Officer American Legislative Exchange Council |
| The Honorable Tony Perkins President Family Research Council |
Cleta Mitchell, Esq. Partner Foley & Lardner LLP |
| The Honorable T. Kenneth Cribb, Jr. Chief Domestic Advisor President Ronald Reagan (1987-1988) |
Bridgett Wagner Vice President, Policy Promotion The Heritage Foundation |
| Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin (Ret.) Executive Vice President Family Research Council |
The Honorable Colin A. Hanna President Let Freedom Ring, Inc. |
| David N. Bossie President Citizens United |
The Honorable James C. Miller III Budget Director for President Reagan (1985-1988) |
| Elaine Donnelly President Center for Military Readiness |
The Honorable Charles J. Cooper Assistant Attorney General, President Ronald Reagan Cooper & Kirk, PLLC |
| Father Frank Pavone National Director Priests for Life |
The Honorable Tom DeLay Former Majority Leader US House of Representatives |
| Ambassador Henry F. Cooper President Reagan’s Chief Defense sand Space Negotiator Former SDI Director |
Michelle Easton President Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women |
| J. Christian Adams President Public Interest Legal Foundation |
Charlie Copeland President Intercollegiate Studies Institute |
| Ron Robinson President Young America’s Foundation |
Mike Davis Founder and President The Article III Project (A3P) |
| Floyd Brown Publisher The Western Journal |
The Honorable Gary L. Bauer President American Values |
| Dr. John C. Eastman Senior Fellow The Claremont Institute |
Trent England Executive Director Save Our States |
| James C. Dobson, Ph.D. Founder & President Dr. James Dobson Family Institute |
Craig Shirley Reagan Biographer Presidential Historian |
| Ralph Benko Chairman The Capitalist League |
Eunie Smith President Emeritus Eagle Forum |
| Rod D. Martin Founder & CEO The Martin Organization, Inc. |
Sherri R. Martin Executive Vice President The Martin Organization, Inc. |
| Haley E. Martin President The Martin Foundation |
Christina Murphy Lusk Campaign for the American Future |
| Guillermo J. Aragon Chief Financial Officer Martin Imaging, Inc. |
Shawn A. Mitchell Former National Chaplain National Federation of Republican Assemblies |
| Judson Phillips Founder Tea Party Nation |
Kevin Freeman Founder and Chairman NSIC Institute |
| Ron Pearson Executive Director Conservative Victory Fund |
Robert D. Thompson Former Administrator The Weyrich Lunch (1999-2016) |
| Charlie Gerow Vice Chairman American Conservative Union |
Melissa Kaye Ortiz Motivational Speaker & Blogger DCBelleonWheels.com |
| Susan A. Carleson Chairman/CEO Carleson Center for Welfare Reform |
Peggy Dau Representative IranAliveMinistries.org |
| Khadine Ritter President Eagle Forum of Ohio |
Kelly Monroe Kullberg Spokesperson American Association of Evangelicals (AAE) |
| Penna Dexter Co-Host Point of View Radio |
C. Preston Noell III President Tradition, Family, Property, Inc. |
| The Honorable Penny Pullen Former Member National Council on Education Research & Improvement |
Gerard Kassar State Chairman NYS Conservative Party |
| Allen Hebert Chairman American-Chinese Fellowship of Houston |
Tom DeWeese President American Policy Center |
| Richard Norman Founder and President The Richard Norman Company |
Debbie Georgatos Host, America, Can We Talk? CWT Publications, LLC |
| The Honorable George K. Rasley Jr. Managing Editor ConservativeHQ.com |
Anne Schlafly Cori Chairman Eagle Forum |
| Joseph A. Morris Partner, Morris & De La Rosa Assistant U.S. Attorney General (Reagan Meese) |
Gary Marx President The Concord Fund |
| Donna Rice Hughes CEO DRH Enterprises |
Paavo Ensio Chairman Universal Minerals Group |
| Karen England Executive Director Nevada Family Alliance & Capitol Resource Institute |
Tim Macy Chairman Gun Owners of America |
| Kay R. Daly President Coalition for a Fair Judiciary |
Chad Connelly President Faith Wins |
| Richard Manning President Americans for Limited Government |
Joan Holt Lindsey President Lindsey Communications |
| Doug Gamble Writer Freelance |
Jack Park Conservative Activist and Donor Law Offices of Jack Park |
| Sheryl Kaufman Board of Directors Americans for Limited Government |
Richard H. Wright Owner R & S LLC |
| William W. Pascoe, III Board Member Tea Party Patriots Action |
Sal Russo Co-Founder and Chief Strategist Tea Party Express |
| William Shaker CEO Washington Marketing Group |
Matthew Tyrmand Principal Matthew Tyrmand LLC |
| Lewis K. Uhler Founder and President National Tax Limitation Committee |
Sean Noble President American Encore |
| Willes K. Lee President National Federation of Republican Assemblies |
Dr. Virginia Armstrong National Court Watch Chairman Eagle Forum |
| Dr. Jerome R. Corsi, Ph.D. Founder and CEO CorsiNation.com |
The Honorable Mike Hill Representative Florida State House |
| Rob Chambers Vice President AFA Action |
Robert K. Fischer Meeting Coordinator Conservatives of Faith |
| Richard D. Hayes Partner Hayes Berry White & Vanzant LLP |
Mario Navarro da Costa Director, Washington Bureau Tradition, Family, Property |
| Kielle C. Horton President The Lindsey Foundation |
Bob Carlstrom President AMAC Action |
| James L. Martin Founder/Chairman 60 Plus Association |
Saulius “Saul” Anuzis President 60 Plus Association |
| Karen Hartman Paralegal Heartbeat International |
Lori Roman President American Constitutional Rights Union Action |
| Jay Mount President MDS Communications Corporation |
Vivian N. DuBose President/CEO Noble Properties, Inc. |
| Andresen Blom President Hawaiian Values |
Ed Martin President Phyllis Schlafly Eagles |
| Rebekah Gantner Executive Director Eagle Forum Education & Legal Defense Fund |
Dr. Seymour Fein Managing Partner CNF Pharma, LLC |
| Richard Rounsavelle Trustee Media Research Center |
Lee Beaman CEO Beaman Automotive Group |
| Dr. Frank Wright President & CEO D. James Kennedy Ministries |
Melvin Adams President Noah Webster Educational Foundation |
| E. Ray Moore Director Exodus Mandate |
E.C. Sykes General Partner Aslan Ventures |
| Roxanne Phillips Member, Executive Committee Council for National Policy |
All organizations listed for IDENTIFICATION purposes only.
