On May 26th, video footage of a children’s choir being stopped by Capitol Police from singing the national anthem in the U.S.
Capitol went viral. The choir, known as the Rushingbrook Children’s Choir, had traveled from Greenville, South Carolina to perform for lawmakers, but were halted by a Capitol Police officer due to “miscommunication.” At first, Capitol Police stated that they believed the group didn’t have permission to perform in the building, but later clarified their statement, saying that they “were not aware that the Speaker’s Office had approved this performance.”
Rushingbrook Children's Choir were singing the National Anthem in the Capitol and were stopped by Capitol police.
They were told that "certain Capitol police said it might offend someone/cause issues."
The National Anthem sung by children is not offensive, it’s needed more. pic.twitter.com/PvSMJdw5EZ
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene?? (@RepMTG) June 2, 2023
The choir director, David Rasbach, expressed his shock and dismay at the incident, noting that he had secured permission from three congressional offices to perform at the U.S. Capitol. Capitol Police denied political bias and stated that the congressional staffer who accompanied the group lied “to the officers multiple times about having permission from various offices.” Although demonstrations and musical performances are not allowed in the U.S. Capitol, the children were allowed to finish their rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner.
Several Republican members of Congress, including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, issued a joint statement expressing their disappointment that the performance was cut short. They expressed a desire to welcome more Americans back to the halls of Congress in the future. The incident sparked outrage on social media, with many people criticizing Capitol Police for their handling of the situation. The children’s choir has since returned home, but the incident has raised questions about security and communication protocols within the U.S. Capitol.
