By Kyeland Jackson —
U of L’s infamous Confederate monument could move as far as an hour southwest from campus.
Reported by The Courier-Journal, about two dozen appealed to Mayor Greg Fischer’s art commission Monday, trying to move the statue to suggested locations. Many ideas came from Brandenburg officials, who said they would welcome the monument as another tourism spot for the city.
Brandenburg holds Civil War reenactments every two years, attracting many to city.
Paducah, Virginia, Perryville and other locations were suggested for where the monument could move. Statue advocates said Fischer bowed to political correctness, and suggested the statue remain in Jefferson county.
The planned removal of the statue was announced by Fischer and President James Ramsey in April. The announcement drew immediate backlash, with advocates gathering around the monument and calling it an erasure of history.
In May a judge ruled Fischer could legally remove the contested statue. While the city may act, Fischer’s office has stated the monument will remain until a destination is decided.
Regardless of the decision, debate remains heated. Pan-African Studies Chair Ricky Jones defended himself during a forum on the monument, blaming accusations against him on racist sentiment.
“To call me or my people terrorists, or terrorists sympathizers…that is one of the greatest erasures of history ever,” Jones said at the forum.
