The murder and wrongful conviction of innocent black men and women based on prejudice and racial discrimination has become increasingly common in our country. Not only have those who are supposed to protect us been committing these crimes, but others have often turned a blind eye. In recent weeks, outrage has spread nationwide. This kind of blatant discrimination is nothing new, but the murder of George Floyd on May 25 was such an outright injustice that many who had been ignorant and blind to what was happening could no longer look the other way. His murder led to international uproar and started discussions about how we uphold oppression in our own communities – including with our Confederate monuments. In some places, these monuments have been removed by protesters. In others, graffiti and art have expressed the emotions and outrage that systematic and systemic racism has sparked. All of these approaches have also placed responsibility on those with authority to address the harm that these monuments cause.
Across the country, Confederate symbols, monuments, and statues are being taken down or protested. They have been pulled into the spotlight and now people want to do something about the hatred they memorialize and represent. Here are a few stories and articles of this change:
- America is rethinking Confederate symbols. Will Republicans let NC do the same?
- Mississippi lawmakers drafting resolution to take Confederate emblem off state flag: report
Debra Holt Noel from UNCTV (who is also Mr. Holt’s daughter) shared these articles about Confederate monuments with us.
- ABC News: Here’s where Confederate statues and memorials have been removed in the US
- ‘Sins of our past’: After 84 years, Jefferson Davis statue removed from Kentucky Capitol
Mr. Joe Holt sent us this link, providing background on the removal of monuments
Here is an interview by David Hoffman sent to us, also by Mr. Holt.
June 20th 2020
In the nation’s capital, another Confederate monument was just pulled down by protesters. (Article). This statue (image to the right) being pulled down in Washington DC illustrates the nationwide uproar surrounding this memorialization. This monument was of Confederate General Albert Pike
Monuments On State Grounds
(also on front page)
On the night of June 19, 2020 protesters pulled two side statues off of the large 75-foot monument in the middle of downtown Raleigh and called for its removal again. On June 20th, another confederate monument honoring confederate women was taken down because it could now be justified that these monuments were a public safety hazard. And finally, on June 21st, the full 75 foot tall memorial to confederate dead, was dismantled and removed. This does not mean that our work is over. Every other confederate monument in North Carolina is still protected by the law we are trying to repeal. It must be repealed because of that.
Raleigh Art and “END RACISM NOW” Mural
Downtown a businesswoman, Charman Driver has led a group who have painted a large mural on the street outside of Raleigh’s Contemporary Art Museum (CAM). Originally, Driver wanted to paint the message leading up to the large 75-foot confederate statue on the Grounds of the capital building as a clear response to the monuments. However this was not allowed, so Driver painted the statement “End Racism Now” outside of CAM Raleigh. This was inspired by the similar “Black Lives Matter” mural in front of the White House.
“Take them down. I don’t need my 12-year-old going over there and seeing that.”
Charman Driver, Cameron Village Businesswoman
Legislation Regarding Confederate Monuments
On June 17, 2020, a group of statewide attorneys called for the removal of confederate monuments in North Carolina. 66 attorneys wrote a letter to State Government officials including Governor Roy Cooper, Secretary Susi H. Hamilton, Historical Commission Chair David Ruffin, President Phil Berger and Speaker Tim Moore, and Democratic leaders Dan Blue and Darren Jackson.
Here is the appeal and an article on it.
“These displays are inextricably tied to secession, slavery, and white supremacy. We urge their immediate removal.”
66 NC Statewide Attorneys
Current protests to the Removal of Confederate Statues on State grounds
A White Supremacy Group in Raleigh, in protest to the removal of confederate monuments, has threatened to pull down the bronze statue of Martin Luther King Jr. in the MLK Memorial Gardens in Southeast Raleigh.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to Justice everywhere”
MLK Jr.