US Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy is open to renaming military bases named after the Confederate generals, Fox News has gained growing attention amid protests against country-wide police brutality and racism after the death of George Floyd.

A senior Army official told Fox News on Monday that McCarthy is not planning to change names unilaterally, but will seek bilateral support instead. US Army installations, named after the Confederate generals, include Fort Benning in Georgia and Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

“We need to know that history is important, but we have to get together and have some kind of open discussion about the race,” he said. “

The announcement pointed to the rejection of the Army. The branch said it was opposed to the Navy thinking earlier this year that it was banned from the installation of the Confederate flags after its announcement last April.

David H. Berger, Commander of the Marine Corps General, said in a letter to the Corps that the Confederate flag “has the power to spark feelings of division”.

“We are a warrior organization, we are an elite warrior institution interconnected to win challenging wars,” wrote Berger. “Everything that separates us, everything that threatens team cohesion should be handled thoroughly.”

“I want every Mariner to realize that I fully accept my duty and responsibility to help form this team. This means that I need to identify symbols or subcultures that disrupt the harmony that fights our demands. “

Last week, however, Berger acknowledged that removing the division symbols was not enough, “we should try to eliminate more division itself.”

“The trust that sailors feel for each other on a daily basis demands this,” he wrote in an open letter. “As a united power free from discrimination, racial inequality and prejudice, we can fully demonstrate our core values ​​and serve as an outstanding warrior organization that allows America to demand and wait.”

At least 10 Army facilities are named after the Confederate military commanders, Politico reported. Previous calls to rename them were rejected on the grounds that they would oppose the tradition.

In Message Delivered to the Army last week, McCarthy wrote that his views on the issue developed in the midst of protests across the country.

“Last week, the country has experienced a boom of disappointment in racial divisions that still bother us as Americans. Since your army is a reflection of American society, these divisions also live in the Army, ”explains McCarthy, in a joint statement with Chief of General Staff Gen. James McConville and Army Chief Sergeant Michael Grinston.

“We feel frustration and anger,” they added. “We must work harder to gain the trust of mothers and fathers who hesitate to care for their sons and daughters.”