SW Arkansas Times

Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) recently delivered remarks at the unveiling of a statue of civil rights activist and journalist Daisy Bates in the National Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol.

In his speech, Westerman recounted Bates' early life experiences and her subsequent dedication to seeking justice. He quoted Bates as saying, “Imagine, as an eight-year-old girl, you learn that years before, your mother had been raped, murdered, and dumped in a pond." This tragic event took place in Huttig, Arkansas. Bates later revealed that the white men who committed this crime against her black mother were never held accountable.

In an interview 54 years later, Bates said, "I was so tight inside, there was so much hate. And I think it started then without me knowing it. It prepared me, it gave me the strength to carry this out." According to Westerman, she used these feelings as motivation to make a difference and seek justice where there was injustice.

Ben Victor, the sculptor of the statue of Bates, described her as a woman with courage and cause. He depicted her in motion with a smile on her face to represent her optimism amidst adversity. Her role as a journalist and publisher is highlighted by the pen and notepad in her right hand and newspaper in her left.

Westerman further elaborated on Bates' courage by quoting one of her speeches: "One of us might die in this fight. And I said to them if they kill me, you would have to go on. If I die, don’t you stop." He emphasized that true courage is not about being fearless but about facing fear and overcoming it.

The congressman concluded his remarks by expressing hope that retelling Bates' story will serve as a small semblance of the justice she sought for all people. He stated that it was a proud day for Arkansans to honor one of their own.