The Rushingbrook Children’s Choir was interrupted and stopped by police while singing the National Anthem in Statuary Hall at the United States Capitol today.
The children traveled to Washington, D.C. last Friday, May 26th, for a scheduled Capitol tour.
They had received approval to sing a short set of patriotic songs inside the historic Statuary Hall.
As they sang The Star-Spangled Banner, Capitol Police stopped the show and did not allow the kids to finish the song.
They told the choir director that singing the national anthem at the nation’s Capitol is considered a form of protest and it may offend someone.
WATCH:
VIDEO: The moment a children’s choir singing at the Capitol was told to stop singing the National Anthem during the 2nd verse. They had been given permission to sing prior to a higher up deciding our nation’s anthem in our nation’s capitol was offensive.
pic.twitter.com/PF466PkA3Z— @amuse (@amuse) June 2, 2023
However, Capitol Police guidelines specifically state that musical performances are not demonstrations.
A Twitter user said: “The moment a children’s choir singing at the #uscapitol was told to stop singing the U.S. National Anthem during the second verse.
“They had been given permission to sing prior to a higher-up deciding our nation’s anthem in our nation’s capitol was offensive.
“No, seriously, when asked why, they were apparently told that the song might “offend someone.”
“We’ve been stopped in the middle of the Star Spangled Banner while here in the Capitol even though we were approved for this concert,” said Christina Chapman Heffernan.
“Certain Capitol police said it might offend someone/cause issues.
“We respect authority but we should have been allowed to sing because of the multi-level approval we already got from 3 representatives involved: Russell Fry, Joe Wilson, and William Timmons.”
The moment a children’s choir singing at the #uscapitol was told to stop singing the U.S. National Anthem during the second verse. They had been given permission to sing prior to a higher up deciding our nation’s anthem in our nation’s capitol was offensive.
No, seriously, when… pic.twitter.com/ygHnB4gjQ5— The Overton Report (@overton_the) May 26, 2023
SHOCK: The Capitol Police refused to allow students to sing the National Anthem in U.S. Capitol explaining that, “it might offend someone/cause issues.” The students were allowed to sing other less controversial songs. @SpeakerMcCarthy https://t.co/ifQbkafSiy pic.twitter.com/rl3JRqpRqs
— @amuse (@amuse) June 2, 2023
Matthew Leys said:
“The visit and Choir performance was all planned and approved, but it’s possible that there was some type of ‘permit’ or communication mixup.
“Either way the kids sang brilliantly.
Capitol Police not even letting them complete the song and trying to explain that singing the Anthem could be considered a form of protest is telling and embarrassing.
“When you need a permit to sing your National Anthem in your nation’s Capitol, something’s gone wrong.”
