Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy is open to renaming ten Army posts that are currently named after Confederate military commanders, according to multiple reports. Politico reports the uproar over the death of George Floyd, a black man, while in Minneapolis police custody drove the decision.
The idea, which was reportedly rejected as recently as February, comes as massive protests calling for racial justice and equality continue nationwide after Floyd's death.
McCarthy wants to have a “bipartisan discussion” on the issue, according to Stars and Stripes and CNN, both citing an Army official. Politico reported Defense Secretary Mark Esper is also open to the idea.
Fort Bragg in NC is named after Braxton Bragg. He was born in NC and was a slave owner and Confederate Army commander
The posts under consideration for renaming, according to Stars and Stripes, are:
- Camp Beauregard, Louisiana
- Fort Polk, Louisiana
- Fort Benning, Georgia
- Fort Gordon, Georgia
- Fort Bragg, North Carolina
- Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia
- Fort Lee, Virginia
- Fort Pickett, Virginia
- Fort Rucker, Alabama
- Fort Hood, Texas