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Marc Veasey pushes to remove statue ahead of Rangers home opener
WASHINGTON – Rep. Marc Veasey still remembers his younger brother chasing Rafael Palmeiro and Julio Franco cards tucked in packs of Mother’s Cookies.
“We've been lifelong Ranger fans,” Veasey told The Dallas Morning News in a recent interview.
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The Fort Worth Democrat said it was disappointing to see the team install the “One Riot, One Ranger” statue on the left-field concourse at Globe Life Field in Arlington.
Ahead of the Rangers home opener Friday, Veasey renewed his call for the team to remove the 12-foot bronze statue greeting fans as they arrive through the park’s north entrance.
Veasey said it honors a law enforcement officer linked to resistance to racial integration at Mansfield High School in 1956 after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education.
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He raised those concerns last month in a letter to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and Rangers representatives.
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Veasey said he talked to league representatives before sending the letter and was told such matters are typically handled at the team level. Veasey said he has not received any direct response from the team to his letter.
“The fact they would invite this in, knowing it was going to be controversial, it's just disappointing,” Veasey said. “And I'm really upset about it.”
League officials have not responded to The News’ requests for comment.
The team responded to a request for comment Thursday by referring to its initial news release about the statue and highlighting a statement by majority owner Ray Davis that the team has "worn the Rangers name since 1972 with pride."
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The team also cited a statement by Russell S. Molina that the statue "represents all Texas Rangers, not any single individual." Molina is chairman of Texas Ranger Bicentennial 2023 and board member of Texas Ranger Association Foundation.
The club has noted that while the franchise was named for the agency, the baseball organization "has forged its own, independent identity."
The statue had stood at Dallas Love Field for decades before being removed in 2020 amid scrutiny of its historical associations.
Thursday night, Veasey said opening day is a special moment for North Texas families.
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“Teams like the Rangers are woven into the fabric of our community,” he said. “That comes with an opportunity and a responsibility to make sure that legacy is one people feel proud of.”
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Veasey said he’s open to dialogue with the team and urged owners such as Davis to reflect on their experiences during the civil rights movement and school integration.
“Talk about what it is that you saw back then that led you to make this decision today, that made you think it'd be okay to put that statue there,” Veasey said.
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In response to questions from The News, Veasey’s office said Thursday it was unclear whether the congressman would attend the home opener, adding that he wishes the Rangers a "successful and exciting” season.