A Treasury official says Secretary Jacob Lew has decided to put Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill, making her the first woman to appear on U.S. paper currency in 100 years.
The 19th century abolitionist and leader of the Underground Railroad, would replace the portrait of Andrew Jackson, the nation's seventh president.
Governor Andrew Cuomo issued the following statement:
“Harriet Tubman was an iconic New Yorker who helped change the course of this nation, and she is well deserving of this distinction. She showed bravery and resilience in the face of injustice, putting her life and liberty at risk countless times for the freedom of others. Just as her home in Auburn, Cayuga County, stands as a landmark to her incredible history, this distinction will ensure that Harriet Tubman’s legacy endures for generations yet to come.”
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand also released staements on the U.S. Treasury Department’s decision to feature Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill and keep Alexander Hamilton on the $10 bill:
“It’s extraordinary that Harriet Tubman, a civil rights icon and New Yorker, will get her rightful place on the $20 bill so that future generations of Americans will learn her story and the integral role she played during a painful time in our nation’s history. It is past due for a woman to be represented on our currency, and Harriet Tubman is a fitting choice for this honor.
“My friend Lin-Manuel Miranda has done our nation a great service by telling Alexander Hamilton’s story. It’s fantastic that because so many people learned about the American hero who created our financial system, Hamilton will remain on the $10 bill.”
© 2016 AP
