Gastonias Confederate Monument: A Symbol of Division Amid Legal and Political Strife
In the heart of Gastonia, North Carolina, a Confederate monument has stood tall since 1912. Its towering figure looks out at a street renamed for Martin Luther King Jr., a symbol of the racial tension that continues to grip the United States. The monument has been the center of a heated legal and political battle since 2020, driven by local activists led by Scotty Reid. Their mission: to remove the troubling symbol of the Confederacy, a movement that gained momentum in the wake of George Floyds killing.
Despite peaceful marches, petitions, and engagement with the county commission, the activists efforts have encountered significant resistance. The Gaston County Commission initially voted to remove the monument and transfer it to a Confederate group. However, the group backed out due to concerns about state law, leaving the monuments fate hanging in the balance.
The courts, too, have proven to be an obstacle. Superior Court Judge Robert Ervin ruled that the courts did not have the authority to decide on the monuments removal, stating that this decision rested solely with county leaders. County Commissioner Chad Brown voiced his support for the judgment, emphasizing the monuments role in commemorating Gaston County soldiers who perished in the Civil War.
Opponents of the monument argue that the North Carolina Statute 100-2.1, which protects objects of remembrance, does not apply in this case. Their argument hinges on the fact that the monument is not state-owned, thereby exempting it from the statutes protection. This interpretation, however, has yet to gain legal traction.
Frustrated by the reversal of the countys decision to remove the statue, the activists remain undeterred. Reid, alongside Democratic candidate for N.C. House 109 Pam Morganstern, Sierra Hall, and others, has pledged to continue the fight. Their 2024 campaign mirrors the activism of 2020, signifying an unwavering commitment to change and a refusal to let the monuments shadow loom over Gastonia unchallenged.
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Gastonia's Confederate Monument: A Symbol of Division Amid Legal and Political Strife - BNN Breaking