The tragic story of Ethel Benson struck a deep chord with me. I first read about it in the local newspaper called the News Journal. Benson was institutionalized into the Delaware Colony for the Feeble-Minded. While there, she endured involuntary sterilization. She died a month later, and her story has been covered up for years until recently when it was published in the newspaper last month. 

Dr. James Beebe, the founder of Beebe Hospital, performed this egregious procedure by removing both of her fallopian tubes and clitoris. This happened due to the simple fact that she was unmarried and had children out of wedlock. Dr. James Beebe and his brother, Dr. Richard Beebe, worked together as a team to perform hundreds of forced sterilizations of innocent victims. 

Due to these unforgivable and disgraceful actions performed by the Beebe brothers, I am petitioning their legacy to be defiled by memorializing the hospital's name in Ms. Benson's honor instead. The Beebe brothers are not worthy of positive recognition and acknowledgment due to their shameful, egregious actions. 

This gross human rights violation demonstrates our tendency to whitewash history, and Delaware is sadly no exception. This tragedy shows that learning about our history, the good, bad, and the ugly, is an essential first step in correcting our wrongs as a country. 

Honoring Ms. Benson's legacy through memorialization is a positive step in the right direction. Please join me in signing this petition to make this a reality!