Johnny Cash To Replace Confederate Statues In U.S. Capitol Building

The times they are a-changin! The famous lyrics from Bob Dylan‘s 1964 folk ballad still echo strongly in today’s society, as the American landscape continues to undergo changes in stark contrast to its controversial past. On Wednesday, it was reported that Johnny Cash, along with civil rights icon Daisy Lee Gatson Bates will replace a pair of statues of two figures who supported the Confederacy in the 19th century.

According to reports, the likenesses of Cash and Bates will go inside the U.S. Capitol in marble form where statues of Confederate attorney Uriah Milton Rose and former Arkansas Governor James P. Clarke have stood in Statuary Hall for the last 100 years. The decision was signed into state law last week by current Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, who stands by the decision of the statue removal in hopes of updating the U.S. Capitol “with representatives of our more recent history.”

“Arkansas icons Daisy Bates and Johnny Cash are worthy additions to the U.S. Capitol statue collection,” U.S. Representative for Arkansas’s 2nd congressional district French Hill added in a statement in support of the decision. “I applaud the decision by Gov. Hutchinson and the General Assembly to recognize their historic contributions and preserve their inspiring legacies for future generations.”

Cash, who is an American icon in the realm of music and arts entertainment, was a native of Arkansas growing up. The famous singer and guitarist died in September 2003. The report goes on to state that the statue swap likely won’t occur for a few more years due to the funding needed from private donors to create their replacements.

[H/T Washington Post]