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Lawmaker Wants 'General Hooker' Sign Removed From State House

BOSTON (CBS) – A Massachusetts lawmaker wants the "General Hooker Entrance" sign removed from the State House because she calls it a double entendre "misrepresented as respect for a long-dead general."

Michelle DuBois - a state representative from Brockton, West Bridgewater, and East Bridgewater - tweeted a picture of the sign on Wednesday, saying "#MeToo it's not all about rape & harassment but also women's dignity."

The entrance is named after Civil War General Joseph Hooker. There is also a statue of him outside the State House.

DuBois, however, argued that the sign leads to teasing. She said the name change is "not a priority for me but I do think it should and will happen."

"Female staffers don't use that entrance because the sign is offensive to them," DuBois told WBZ-TV's David Robichaud.

"Ive seen teenboys tease teengirls about being 'general hookers' waiting in line at the entrance. Sign is out of context & either Gen's his first name should be added or change the entrance name," Dubois replied to a Twitter user who was critical of her stance.

DuBois said the sign should be taken down and the statue should remain in place.

general hooker
General Joseph Hooker. (Image Credit: Boston Public Library)

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker was asked about the issue at a Thursday event.

"I think many people consider (General Hooker) to be part of the team that delivered freedom for slaves in this country," Baker said. "But the name over the building itself obviously carries with it a connotation that, if the legislature and others think is an appropriate thing to change, that's certainly something we'd be willing to talk about."

A rumor also swirled that the slang word "hooker" came to be based on a group of women prostitutes who used to follow General Hooker around during the Civil War.

Massachusetts Historical Society Librarian Peter Drummey clarified: "It's not true that it was started because of him. It pre-dates the Civil War. They were really talking about the camp followers, the prostitutes, and other shady hanging around his headquarters.

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