Nine members of the Kennedy family asked a federal judge in Washington on Tuesday for permission to join the legal battle against President Donald Trump’s proposed triumphal arch, arguing that the structure would cast a shadow over the graves of some of their loved ones.
The Kennedys said the arch’s planned location in the nation’s capital would also obstruct the clear line of sight from the John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame Memorial, through the Arlington Memorial Bridge, to the Lincoln Memorial, which the family called a “critical element” of the design.
This high-profile request once again pits one of the most famous families in American history against Trump. Both sides also opposed Trump’s attempt to remake the Kennedy Center. Trump closed the arts institution after a judge blocked him from adding his name to the building.
The Kennedys seeking to join the lawsuit include seven of Robert F. Kennedy’s living children – all with the exception of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
In a statement, Rory Kennedy and Maxwell Kennedy said the request was intended to “protect sacred spaces,” adding that they believed Trump had “violated the laws and procedures established by Congress to protect this most sacred national memorial.”
“A towering arch casting shadows over the graves of our father, mother and uncles, as well as the graves of so many who served our country, would also cast a shadow over our democratic principles, undermining the safeguards established by our elected representatives to protect this sacred land for generations to come,” the statement said.
The District of Columbia and Virginia, along with Vietnam War veteran and former U.S. Ambassador Michael Lemmon, had filed a lawsuit over the project. The Kennedys have asked to join both lawsuits, arguing that they have “a direct and immediate interest in this matter and claims that share common questions of law.”
The arch is planned to be built on Memorial Circle, between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. It is designed to be 250 feet tall, more than twice the height of the Lincoln Memorial.
A federal judge blocked construction of the project last week, shortly after a planning committee with a majority of Trump-aligned members voted to approve it.
Kennedy family members buried in Arlington include the president John F. Kennedy, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and Senator Ted Kennedy.
The Kennedys who are seeking to join the lawsuit argue that they have “a sole interest” in the property.
“As members of the Kennedy family, stakeholders have a special interest in protecting the Kennedy graves, ensuring that these graves remain intact as a solemn and sacred memorial to the Kennedy family legacy,” they wrote.
White House spokesman Davis Ingle said in response to the lawsuit that the administration was “confident that we will be fully vindicated as this litigation continues.”
“It is unfortunate to see that some members of the Kennedy family have joined the litigation against the Ark, as the project is intended to honor our heroes who rest at Arlington Cemetery,” Ingle said in a statement. “Judicial power must not be abused to politicize a structure designed to unite our nation. »
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