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.
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: “O'er 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.
According to Rasbach, after Wilson’s staffer told him to silence the children, he walked over to three Capitol Police officers, one of whom told him that the group “may not continue singing.”
“This is considered to be a demonstration, and that is not allowed in the Capitol,” she added, according to Rasbach.
“Do you mean to tell me that a choir of children may not sing the National Anthem in the capitol of the United States?” Rasbach said he asked.
“No, they may not,” she responded, according to Rasbach.
Rasbach says parents were “outraged” when they learned the performance had been shut down as a “demonstration,” with one calling the situation “tyranny.”
The choir director says he told his children to depart with dignity, avoiding undue displays of negative emotion.
“They ALL obeyed beautifully!” Rasbach said in his written recollection.
He says he went up to the same officer again, who informed him “there were complaints” about the singing.
Access to the Capitol and other federal government facilities has been a point of contention since the events of Jan. 6, 2021, after which access to the People’s House was sharply restricted.
In late December, McCarthy pledged that “the new Republican majority will fully reopen and restore the U.S. Capitol to the American people.”
For Rasbach and others, it may be difficult to believe that the People’s House has been restored to its stewards.
“I left with a sense of utter disappointment, realizing that our country had certainly changed since the times when, as a child, my family visited the Capitol many times and could go up the grand front steps, unrestricted, roam the Capitol halls at will, ascend the grand, marble staircase and visit the balconies of the stately Senate and House chambers, all while feeling—even as a child—a deep sense of respect and pride that this great building and all that it represents is my birthright!” he said in his account of the incident.
The Epoch Times has reached out to the Committee on House Administration for comment.
