Activists say statue must be replaced : News-Record.com : Greensboro & the Triad's most trusted source for local news and analysis

REIDSVILLE — A new group is threatening legal action against the city of Reidsville if a controversial Confederate monument isn’t returned to the city’s center.

A group calling itself the Historical Political Action Committee delivered a letter to Reidsville on Tuesday alleging that the state owns the monument and the land it sat on.

The century-old monument , which sat on a massive marble base in the traffic circle of Morehead and Scales streets, was damaged in May when it was hit by a van.

The city determined that the state association of the United Daughters of the Confederacy owns the statue. That group decided not to erect a replacement in the city center. However, the local chapter disagrees with its state leadership, according to members.

The statue has been a point of controversy in the city, acting as a reminder of slavery for some and a symbol of Southern pride for others. The state UDC president cited that controversy when announcing the decision not to replace the monument.

There has been discussion of erecting a replica in a city-owned cemetery that has a section for Confederate soldiers.

Citing articles in the local newspaper from 1910, when the monument was installed, the committee argues that the UDC gave the statue to the city but the state has owned it for decades because the traffic circle is part of the state road system.

The group gave the city 30 days to respond. Rodney Hord , committee president , said the city took possession of both the statue and its base after the wreck.

Hord said the letter was also delivered to the N.C. Department of Transportation and the N.C. Historical Commission. He took issue with the state UDC’s claim that the statue is damaged beyond repair.

He said the group wants to see a historic and misunderstood monument returned to its rightful place.

“It’s not a racist thing,” Hord said. “It’s to the dead soldiers of the Confederacy.”

City Manager Michael Pearce said the city attorney is reviewing the letter.

“They raised some new points that hadn’t been considered before,” Pearce said. “My initial reaction is to disagree with the public right-of-way versus land ownership claim.”

The group plans to hold a news conference downtown at 10 a.m. today .

Contact J. Brian Ewing at 627-4881, Ext. 120, or brian.ewing@news-record.com

swerdna

September 22, 2011 - 6:44 am EDT

The Civil War happened and is part of history. For some, this statue is a reminder of slavery. For some, it's a "Southern pride" thing. Whether or not the statue is replaced doesn't change what has already happened, so perhaps it should be replaced as a reminder to ALL of what should NEVER be allowed to happen again.

"You don't change the course of history by turning the faces of portraits to the wall." (Jawaharlal Nehru).

SJS4JC

September 22, 2011 - 10:46 am EDT

What is unclear to me is how this 'misinformation' about the Civil War and the Confederacy ever got started to say that this monument represents 'hate' or 'slavery'. It would behoove people to read up on what the facts are instead of continuing to say things that aren't true.

Panacea

September 22, 2011 - 11:09 am EDT

Perception is everything.

The War was over slavery, have no doubt about it. Whites did not believe blacks were their equal, and believed they needed to be controlled. Prejudice and bigotry were very real.

That does not diminish the heroism of our ancestors.

We must be honest about our past, and acknowledge the bad along with the good.

September 22, 2011 - 12:47 pm EDT

Perception is definitely everything, Panacea, but to say a blanket statement that [All] Whites did not believe that blacker were their equal and believed they needed to be controlled. Prejudice (rooted in pride) and bigotry (also rooted in pride) were very real but to say that this war was fought for anything other than secession and state's rights is really disengenuous. To begin being honest one must get the truth and then move forward.

September 22, 2011 - 1:22 pm EDT

You're willfully ignoring nearly 150 years of research on the subject that definitely concludes slavery was the cause of the Civil War.

You're right that to begin being honest one must get the truth, but the person who needs to look at the truth is you.

wcarter2

September 22, 2011 - 7:14 am EDT

Well spoken, the monument should be put back in its rightfull place. It has been there for 101 years. The state of NC has several memorials on the grounds of the state capital commemrating our states citizens sacrifice's during the war between the states. I have a personal interest in seeing the monument returned. My Great Grandfather was a veteran and most likely was at the orginal dedication. He passed away in 1910 shortly after the ceremony. Political correctness has run amuck in this country.
B Carter

September 22, 2011 - 10:49 am EDT

I agree wholeheartedly with the desire to place the monument back 'in its rightful place'. I also have my Great-great Grandfather who served in the 45th Regiment as did some of his brothers so like you I have a 'personal interest in seeing the monument returned'. The political correctness mentioned here is 'eating away all that America was and is all about. Folks are way too 'sensitive' about things because they have been told what to believe but never research to find out the facts.

rasjayee

September 22, 2011 - 8:39 am EDT

If this were a memorial to slaves, you would say "get over it" or "my family didn't own slaves". I don't believe descendants of slaves should get over it anymore than descendants of slaves owners or confederate soldiers should. The Civil war is an amazing and pivotal time in our history. Honor southern heritage, but recognize all of it, not just the parts that make you feel good. Enslaving Africans is part of that legacy and it remains a painful chapter for their descendants. Maybe all citizens of Reidsville and the South should come together and educate each other about the Civil war, look at it from all perpectives, then move forward.

September 22, 2011 - 10:51 am EDT

Very well stated, get the facts and not the 'spin' and much more healing can take place if folks know the truth and decide for themselves once they have been educated. Too many folks take someone else's 'word' for something and believe it to be true and never find out themselves. In my opinion, folks should be so 'easily influenced' to believe just anything.

TOTHE POINT

September 22, 2011 - 9:04 am EDT

I hear all of these above mentioned points. But, correct me if I am wrong, my history books tell me that the south lost that war ... just like Germany, Italy and Japan lost its war. I do not care if that war occured in Europe or on the moon... "You lost" ... now you get over it. Any time I see a confederate flag (small c) or a statue of a rebel soldier in this country it reminds me of the way it was and those who would like to see it back to that way. The next thing you will be saying is let put a statue of Santa Anna in front of the Alamo after all Mexican soldier fought and died there also....... Did they not!!?? I tire of always hearing white people telling Black people to get over slavery .... well keep honoring statues of dead confederate soldiers and flying the confederate "battle flag" and see how long that last....

September 22, 2011 - 10:20 am EDT

The fact the South lost the war is not germane to the argument.

Santa Anna is not a Texas citizen and Texas is no longer part of Mexico, so I can't imagine folks there erecting a statue to him. But if they wanted to, they could. There is precedent: there are monuments to American soldiers in Western Europe and in Japan.

I'm not going to tell blacks to get over slavery. I am going to say that if you want a memorial to the suffering of slaves, erect one! Pay the money for a monument and get the state to give you a spot to put it on. I have NO problem with that, in fact I'd love to see it! I would visit such a memorial.

You have a right to feel the way you do about slavery. But others have the right to feel the way they do about the Confederacy.

There is room for middle ground: to acknowledge the slavery was a terrible wrong, and also to acknowledge that in spite of the prejudice and bigotry that existed at the time (also prevalent among Union soldiers when it came to blacks) that the soldiers of the Confederacy still made great sacrifices for a cause they thought was just, and that those sacrifices shaped the evolution of a nation in both positive and negative ways.

rooster8786

September 22, 2011 - 2:52 pm EDT

They already have a memorial, paid for with TAX dollars, in downtown Greensboro. The monument to Skip & Earl, AKA the civil rights museum.

September 22, 2011 - 3:07 pm EDT

'THEY!?"

September 22, 2011 - 11:01 am EDT

Here again is a post that is based on misinformation. Germany was mentioned in this post. I wonder if it is realized that although Germany lost the war they still have scattered throughout their landscapes many memorials to the American soldiers as well as contain many of the U.S. soldiers graves who died during this war. So, would we or should we 'get over it' and go over to Germany and 'dig up' or remove all memory of what these men fought for. Based on this, then all commerations, waymarkings, battlegrounds should be removed in Germany and also here in the U.S.A. because someone said, "get over it". This isn't about getting over it but about preserving one's heritage and to keep history available for all to observe. It isn't about 'black people to get over slavery'. Get the facts, please.

wctbl?

September 22, 2011 - 12:44 pm EDT

Well then, let's add a Yankee memorial.

September 22, 2011 - 12:48 pm EDT

So allow me to understand....'add a Yankee memorial'....where?

September 22, 2011 - 12:51 pm EDT

The Germans lost...there are monuments to US soldiers. The South lost...by your logic we would add monuments.

clay

September 22, 2011 - 1:26 pm EDT

BTW, in locations throughout Europe (including Germany) there are monuments to the German soldiers of WWII. http://www.thirdreichruins.com/memorials.htm

September 22, 2011 - 1:32 pm EDT

Exactly my point, let's put up memorials to everyone. There's no need to limit them. Look at it as jobs creation for artists. Might as well be positive.

will they be shovel ready?

sparkeysig

September 22, 2011 - 4:18 pm EDT

There is a Union Cemetery here in Greensboro, Arlington National Cemetery is on the grounds of Robert E Lee’s plantation in Virginia. Next problem?????

September 22, 2011 - 3:18 pm EDT

Maybe you should get your facts right!!!! I think Germany lost the war along with Italy and Japan... and in case you are not sure the United States and its allies won. So there would be monuments all over Germany of American soldiers (Especially if you are referring to Normandy). The confederacy (small c) lost the war... so they should only get what is coming to them.... No more slavery, and no more confederate states rights! You say preserve one's heritage.... trust me in another 50 or more years.... kids of the day will not know what a confederate was.... but they will know what American is!!!! Provided there are no statues around to remind them!

DaveW

September 22, 2011 - 1:25 pm EDT

TOTHEPOINT,
Good to see you on here again.
Where have you been?
This is about some history.
Slavery,The Confederate States of America etc. are in the past just like Ancient Greeks and Romans.
We need to remember all of our history including the negative and the positive parts of it.
I see valid points on both sides about monuments.However, not so much the war itself but let's remember in 1910 this was put up to honor soldiers that fought in the Civil War in which many were probably still living in the Reidsville area at that time(1910 not 1865).

Interested

September 22, 2011 - 9:59 am EDT

One has to wonder why an alternative monument would not be acceptable, one not in the form of a confederate soldier.

September 22, 2011 - 10:21 am EDT

Do you have a suggestion as to how one can honor the sacrifices of soldiers without a statue or image of a soldier?

September 22, 2011 - 11:28 am EDT

Have you seen the Vietnam Memorial?

September 22, 2011 - 1:29 pm EDT

The Wall was controversial when opened. Many felt it did not memorialize the dead well at first.

What made them wrong was the fact that so many of the dead from that war had living relatives or friends who made a habit of doing rubbings of the names and leaving personal items as gifts to the dead.

Human beings are visual creatures. Memorials are designed to evoke emotions. A wall of names related to Confederate soldiers would likely not do that. Statues of soldiers definitely do.

While you did answer my question ;) I doubt it would satisfy supporters of restoring the statue.

September 22, 2011 - 1:47 pm EDT

It might not satisfy the supporters. Just as replacing the Confederate soldier will not satisfy those opposed.

My guess is those opposed would prefer nothing be erected but would agree to something that acknowledges the sacrifices made by the men who fought as long as a symbol that reminds them of slavery isn't used. Perhaps those who wish to see this statue replaced should be willing to meet them halfway.

September 22, 2011 - 2:29 pm EDT

I would agree, as long as the converse is true. :)

September 22, 2011 - 2:55 pm EDT

interested, A wall would block the street and probably could/would be seen as representative of a segregating wall between the races so it'll never work...

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