Jacksonville, Florida, mayor has Confederate monument removed after years of controversy

In Jacksonville, Florida, the mayor, Donna Deegan, has ordered the removal of a Confederate monument from Springfield Park. This decision comes after years of controversy surrounding the monument. Known as the “Tribute to the Women of the Southern Confederacy,” this monument had been situated in the park since 1915. Mayor Deegan emphasized that the intent behind this removal is not an attempt to erase history but rather to reflect the lessons learned from it.

Mayor Deegan expressed the significance of symbols, stating that they convey our values and aspirations to the world. By taking down the Confederate monument, she aims to send a powerful message about our shared humanity, the belief in equality, and the commonality of our humanity in terms of flesh, blood, heart, and soul.

The debate surrounding the fate of this monument began in earnest in 2020, following the removal of another Confederate statue by Mayor Lenny Curry, Deegan’s predecessor. This move came in the wake of the death of George Floyd and the subsequent calls for social justice. A proposal to remove the Confederate women tribute was brought before the Jacksonville City Council in 2021 but did not progress, given the Republican-controlled board’s inaction. However, earlier this month, Jacksonville’s Office of General Counsel determined that city council approval was unnecessary, as city funds were not being used for the removal. As the city’s top executive, Mayor Deegan, a Democrat, had the authority to order the statue’s removal. The cost of $187,000 for this endeavor is covered by a grant from the Jessie Ball duPont Fund and anonymous donors, according to city officials.

In response to the removal, Florida Rep. Dean Black, who chairs the Republican Party of Duval County, criticized it as an abuse of power. He characterized it as part of a larger trend he perceives among woke Democrats, referring to it as an obsession with Cancel Culture and the removal of historical monuments.

The Confederate monument will now be placed in city storage while both the community and the city council deliberate on its future.

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