Alabama moves to protect Confederate monuments

The proposed removal of a statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee in Charlottesville, Virginia, has caused outrage from patriotic Americans and led to a torch-lit protest and a candle-lit counter-demonstration.

But in Montgomery, Alabama lawmakers approved state-wide protections for Confederate monuments, names and historic memorials, the Associated Press reported. The Alabama Legislature has approved a bill on Friday, 19 May, that would prohibit the removal of monuments.

The measure “would prohibit the relocation, removal, alteration, renaming, or other disturbance of any architecturally significant building, memorial building, memorial street, or monument” that has stood on public property “for 40 or more years,” it noted. A new state commission would now have to approve changes to names or memorials installed between 20 and 40 years ago.

Supporters of the protective measures argued that all kinds of history should be included.

Sen. Gerald Allen, the bill’s Republican sponsor, criticised what he called a “wave of political correctness” targeting monuments he said were historically significant even if some historical figures had flaws.

Alabama Governor, Kay Ivey added an amendment, which lawmakers approved, to stipulate that schools could change locations and do renovations, but not change names.

The amendment was proposed after lawmakers raised concerns that schools, which are often named for people, could not do renovations or relocate under the bill’s directive.

African-American lawmakers are however trying by all legislative means to remove “a shameful legacy of slavery”. Monuments honoring the Confederacy are singled out. Some have decided on complete removal, while others would add statues honoring civil rights figures, or plaques providing more historical information about slavery and the legal segregation that followed.

“You say we are protecting history. We are not protecting history. We are protecting monuments that represent oppression to a large part of the people in the state of Alabama,” said Sen. Hank Sanders, an African-American Democrat from Selma.

New Orleans, a majority black city, is currently dismantling no less than four Confederate monuments. The black grievance industry and far-left white liberals have declared them to be “offensive to black people”.

The same activists want monuments to Andrew Jackson, George Washington, and Joan of Arc removed as well.

The New Orleans city council consists of seven members, of which five are black and two are white. All five black members and one of the white members voted in favor of dismantling the monuments.

A bill touted as being “pro-monument” was passed 65-31. After voting, the twenty-four member black caucus staged a walkout in protest.

The bill is called LA HB71 and referred to as the “Conservation of Military Memorials Act”. Initially, the bill prohibited any municipal or parish authority from removing any memorials related to any military veterans. However, before it was voted on it was completely neutralized. The bill was changed to say that any municipal or parish could hold a public referendum to remove any monument it wanted.