Congressman Al Green Will Not Participate in State of the Union Interviews Held in the Russell Senate Office Building

(Washington, DC) —On Monday, February 23, 2026, Congressman Al Green announced that he will not participate in interviews conducted in the Russell Senate Office Building during the State of the Union. The Senate Office Building is named to honor Senator Richard Russell, Jr., whose record includes opposition to anti-lynching legislation, co-authorship of the “Southern Manifesto,” and resistance to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Congressman Green has consistently called for the removal of Senator Russell’s name, asserting that the United States Senate should reflect the nation’s highest democratic values. 

Congressman Al Green stated, “I cannot, in good conscience, participate in interviews within a building that honors a legacy rooted in racial division and opposition to civil rights. Until meaningful steps are taken to rename the Russell Senate Office Building, I will continue this peaceful protest. Our public institutions should embody equality, justice, and respect for all, not the bigotry Richard Russell fought for.”