In case you weren’t sure where it falls on the moral spectrum of history, slavery is good history, according to Katrina Pierson, a former spokeswoman for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.
Pierson told Fox News on Monday that “anarchists” want to topple Confederate statues, but Americans need reminders of their history, “both good and bad.”
Fellow guest Wendy Osefo, a professor at Johns Hopkins University, served up a steaming hot plate of knowledge on Pierson, reminding the spokeswoman for America First Policies that the treasonous South lost the Civil War and 650,000 people died in the process.
“This is not a symbol of patriotism,” Osefo said. “This is a symbol of hatred and division.”
“While it is a piece of American history, it’s not necessarily the good part of American history,” Osefo continued. “It’s actually nefarious. So, it doesn’t deserve a place on state grounds. It deserves a place in museums. And that’s where they need to be.”
Pierson responded: “It absolutely deserves a place, because bad history is still good history for this country ―
“Slavery is good history?” Osefo asked in disbelief.
“Absolutely,” Pierson added.
During the heated exchange, Pierson also referred to slavery as “special.”
Pierson and Osefo were on the program to discuss U.S. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi pushing for the removal of Confederate statues from Congress.
“There is no room for celebrating the violent bigotry of the men of the Confederacy in the hallowed halls of the United States Capitol or in places of honor across the country,” Pelosi said in a statement.
A spokesman for Republican U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan said it was up to U.S. states to determine which statues were displayed on their behalf in the Capitol building.
The debate comes after recent violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, where white supremacists held a rally to prevent the removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.
Trump decried on Thursday the removal of monuments to the pro-slavery Civil War Confederacy, echoing white nationalists and drawing stinging rebukes from fellow Republicans in a controversy that has inflamed racial tensions.
He took aim at the removal or consideration for removal of Confederate statues and monuments in a long list of cities in California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Tennessee, Virginia and Texas, as well as Washington, D.C.
“Sad to see the history and culture of our great country being ripped apart with the removal of our beautiful statues and monuments. You can’t change history, but you can learn from it,” Trump wrote on Twitter, refusing to move past the controversy.
“Robert E Lee, Stonewall Jackson – who’s next, Washington, Jefferson? So foolish!” Trump said. He was referring to two Confederate generals in the Civil War that ended in 1865, and to early U.S. presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, who owned slaves but whose legacies are overwhelmingly honored.
Opponents call the statues a festering symbol of racism, while supporters say they honor American history. Some of the monuments have become rallying points for white nationalists but also have the support of some people interested in historical preservation.
Reuters contributed to this report.
