Confederate statue removed from Jacksonville park by city crews overnight

[thelakelander]

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The city of Jacksonville's inventory for Confederate memorials lists three monuments and eight markers on city property related to the Civil War.

As of Tuesday, there is one less.

Crews were seen overnight using a crane to remove a Confederate monument in Jacksonville's Hemming Park, the downtown city plaza framed on two sides by City Hall and the Federal Courthouse. The statue and nameplate were hauled off well before daylight, leaving an empty pedestal.

The change was unannounced and comes ahead of a peaceful protest led by Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette and rapper Lil Duval that's set to start at 10 a.m. outside City Hall. The mayor is expected to join the march.

Full article: https://www.news4jax.com/news/2020/06/09/confederate-statue-removed-from-jacksonville-park-by-city-crews-overnight/

[Peter Griffin]

A Trump topper is about to be added in its place in a bold stroke to get the convention.

Man, that would be so funny if it wouldn't immediately start a riot and put Jax on the map in a bad light...yet again

[Captain Zissou]

A Trump topper is about to be added in its place in a bold stroke to get the convention.

That would be taken down by Saturday evening.  I do wonder if the timing of the HRO and the statue removal is in preparation for our RNC bid.  We may not have sufficient meeting space or hotel rooms, but we won't cause racist or homophobic controversy! 

I am for the removal, but the timing and the manner in which it was done are very peculiar. However, I'm a fan of statues, monuments, and public art, so I hope that we replace the statue with something.  It could be James Weldon Johnson, Tillie Fowler, Fred Durst, a cow... I don't care.  I just want to see it replaced with something that doesn't symbolize oppression and hatred.

[Peter Griffin]

I vote Fred Durst

Take 'em to the Mathews Bridge!

[Adam White]

Stephen Dare, obvs.

[fieldafm]

Clearly a camel rider sandwich is the most appropriate topper. The plaques at the base can be replaced with images of steak in a sacks. Perfection.

[JBTripper]

The Burger King comes to mind.

[JaxAvondale]

If we wait until December, a replica of my MJ fantasy football three peat trophy would be nice.

Not so fast!

[JaxJersey-licious]

And all you naysayers griping abut the Landing, Fire Station #5, City Hall, Hart Bridge ramps, etc. Don't you know practice makes perfect!

Stephen Dare, obvs.

If you were to decorate his monument with some of his most vile, mean-spirited ad hominem posts wouldn't that just amount to some surreal hate message prisoner exchange?

My snarky choice would be Anna Lopez Brosche wearing a hard hat wielding a sledgehammer.

[blizz01]

What did Shad Khan ever do with that Michael Jackson statue at Fulham?  Seems perfect.

[Tacachale]

Lol, this thread makes my day, especially coming from reading our Facebook comments.

[BridgeTroll]

I vote for a Union soldier memorial...

[Captain Zissou]

The facebook comments are insane.  I wonder how many of those people who are outraged are a) aware that there was a confederate soldier statue in hemming park before today b) have seen it in person c) know anything about Jacksonville prior to the year of their birth.  Jacksonville has a checkered past, but at one point it was a very progressive and inclusive city.  Lets memorialize the positive role models from throughout our city's history and not the reminders of the darker times.

[Charles Hunter]

To add to their 'lost cause' angst, there is a Change[dot]org petition on Facebook to change the name of Robert E. Lee High School.
https://www.change.org/p/duval-county-school-district-change-the-name-of-robert-e-lee-high-school-in-jacksonville-fl

[Steve]

Lets memorialize the positive role models from throughout our city's history and not the reminders of the darker times.

I think in some ways that's easier said than done. Slave Labor built the White House (I bet we as a country couldn't pay for it without slave labor, one way or another). Our first President and the namesake of the country's capital was a slaveowner (he emancipated all of his slaves upon his death). Likewise was nearly every early president except for the Adams' father and son. U.S. Grant (Union General) owned a single slave as well - he gave him up just before the civil war.

My point is - while I certainly don't ever condone being uncivil, I think there is going to be some passion around this issue for a long time.