Rockland County legislators voted unanimously, 16-0, to relocate the statue of Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American member of the U.S. Supreme Court, to a location that provides the level of visibility and prominence that his contributions to our county and nation deserve.
County Legislators Toney L. Earl and Dana G. Stilley sponsored the resolution.
“This is an opportunity for Rockland to showcase the great works of Thurgood Marshall,” Legislator Stilley said. “For far too long, the contributions of African-Americans have been eliminated from this country’s history—either forgotten, erased, or pushed to the side. This is an important first step to get the statue relocated, and I look forward to collaborative, fruitful conversations regarding this soon.”
In 1943, Thurgood Marshall changed the pathway to equal education by winning a prominent school desegregation case in Hillburn. That case served as the precursor to the landmark 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education, which declared segregation in public education unconstitutional, cementing his importance to Rockland and the nation.
“A person of Justice Marshall’s stature needs to be in a highly visible location—not only so he can be seen, but also so he can inspire generations of youth to continue fighting for justice, equality, and civil rights,” Legislator Earl said. “There are only a limited number of Supreme Court rulings that have forever changed America’s trajectory, and Thurgood Marshall is among the few who have brought about those victories. His contributions as both a Supreme Court Justice and as an African-American Supreme Court Justice must not be diminished in any way.”
Justice Marshall served on the Supreme Court, the nation’s highest court, from 1967 to 1991. Before his appointment, he argued before the court, winning 29 of the 32 civil rights cases he presented, including the landmark 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision.
In 2021, to honor Justice Marshall’s efforts and accomplishments, Rockland County commissioned a statue of him and created a small park-like setting for its display. However, some community members felt the location was inadequate, as it is not easily visible to the public. The statue currently sits several feet off Main Street in New City, with a road and a parking lot directly behind it.
Many community organizations voiced concerns and requested that the statue be relocated. These organizations have been actively involved in furthering the values and principles that guided Justice Marshall in his lifelong fight for civil rights, justice, and equality.
The adopted resolution, with full bipartisan support, calls upon all appropriate county agencies to take the necessary steps to relocate Justice Marshall’s statue to a more central and visible location where it can be appreciated by a larger number of people.
An incredible waste of taxpayer money.