The U.S. Capitol Police have apologized for halting a Christian children’s choir as they sang the United States’ national anthem with permission from the Speaker’s Office.
“Although popup demonstrations and musical performances are not allowed in the U.S. Capitol without the proper approval, due to a miscommunication, the U.S Capitol Police were not aware that the Speaker’s Office had approved this performance,” the U.S. Capitol Police told The Epoch Times in a June 2 email.
“We apologize to the choir for this miscommunication that impacted their beautiful rendition of the ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ and their visit to Capitol Hill,” the email continued.
A viral clip shows the Rushingbrook Children’s Choir singing Francis Scott Key’s song, inspired by the persistence of American forces against the British during the War of 1812, in the building’s Statuary Hall—itself recently transformed by ideology after Virginia removed a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee in 2020.
Suddenly, the conductor, David Rasbach, is approached by a man who whispers something to him. Rasbach cuts off the performance before the children can deliver the song’s final line: “For the land of the free and the home of the brave.”
In his written recollection of the May 26 incident, Rasbach says the man was from the office of Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), one of multiple lawmakers with whom he coordinated to organize the miniature concert.
He received permission with the help of Wilson and another South Carolina Congressman, Rep. William Timmons. Both offices, Rasbach said, told him he had permission for the concert. As the U.S. Capitol Police indicated, that permission would ultimately have to come from House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).
In a joint statement, Timmons, Wilson, Rep. Russell Fry (R-S.C.), and McCarthy denounced the incident and confirmed McCarthy granted permission.
“We recently learned that schoolchildren from South Carolina were interrupted while singing our National Anthem at the Capitol. These children were welcomed by the Speaker’s office to joyfully express their love of this nation while visiting the Capitol, and we are all very disappointed to learn their celebration was cut short,” the lawmakers said in a statement provided to The Epoch Times on June 2.
When provided with the viral clip and Rasbach’s account, the U.S. Capitol Police disputed nothing except the notion that they claimed “The Star-Spangled Banner” could offend someone.
“It is not accurate we told them the song could be offensive,” the U.S. Capitol Police told The Epoch Times.
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