On Thursday, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) introduced the Saving American History Act of 2020, legislation which would bar federal funds from being used to support the teaching of the New York Times’ “1619 Project” in public schools.
The 1619 Project was launched by the Times last year with the aim of reframing American history around the claim that “nearly everything that has truly made America exceptional” grew “out of slavery.” According to the Pulitzer Center, which is partnering with the Times on the initiative, the 1619 Project has already been used in 4,500 classrooms across all 50 states.
In response, Terry Schilling, executive director at American Principles Project, released the following statement urging support for the legislation:
“This is what true conservative leadership in Washington looks like. The Saving American History Act is a much needed response to the recent assault by radical leftists on our country’s foundational values, and we commend Sen. Cotton for his courage in introducing it.
“Over the last few weeks, Americans have been watching in horror as rioters have set our cities ablaze and torn down statues of our nation’s founders. Unfortunately, progressives have been planting the seeds for this moment for decades through their gradual introduction of anti-American propaganda into higher education.
“Now, through the New York Times’ ‘1619 Project,’ the left is aiming to teach an entire generation of K-12 students that America is and always has been a racist nation founded to advance slavery and oppression. If they succeed, we can be assured that the riots of this summer will be only a small prelude of the upheaval to come.
“American taxpayers should not be subsidizing a program which teaches our nation’s students to despise their country and its history, never mind a program which has also been criticized by numerous historians as filled with inaccuracies. APP fully endorses Sen. Cotton’s bill, and we strongly encourage every conservative member of Congress to support it.”
