Photo: Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images News / Getty Images
Frederick Douglass now has his name etched into one of the most powerful rooms in the United States.
In a bipartisan move, lawmakers officially renamed the U.S. House press gallery in honor of the abolitionist, writer and former presidential adviser — a man who once reported on congressional proceedings from that very chamber during the Civil War.
The effort was led by Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) and supported by Rep. Steve Horsford (D-Nev.), with House Speaker Mike Johnson joining the dedication ceremony inside the Capitol. A plaque bearing Douglass’ name now overlooks the entrance to the gallery.
“When we talk about Frederick Douglass, we are talking about a man who possessed a profound and unshakable faith in Americans, in America’s family,” Donalds said during remarks at the unveiling.
Douglass was not just a towering voice against slavery — he was deeply engaged in the legislative process. His speeches, newspaper writings and letters to President Abraham Lincoln and members of Congress helped build public and political momentum toward abolition. After escaping slavery in Maryland and teaching himself to read and write, Douglass became one of the 19th century’s most influential thinkers and advocates for civil rights.
House Speaker Johnson called the renaming an example of giving “honor where honor is due,” saying Douglass is “certainly deserving of that honor.”
Prominent Black conservatives and senior Trump administration officials attended the ceremony inside the U.S. Capitol.
The dedication comes during Black History Month and as the nation marks 100 years since the first formal national observance of Black history, launched in 1926 by historian Carter G. Woodson as Negro History Week.
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