It’s been a long time coming but the city of New Orleans has finally started the process of dismantling four controversial monuments representing the Confederate and Jim Crow eras of history. On Monday night, amid death threats and protests, contractors wore helmets and flak jackets and were supervised by nearby police officers as they proceeded to tear down reminders of a racist past—one that many continue to celebrate and hold on to in the name of “Southern Pride.” In fact, earlier this month, Republican Louisiana Lt. Gov. William “Billy” Nungesser petitioned Donald Trump directly for help to ensure that the monuments got enough funding to keep them exactly where they are. But, luckily, Democratic Mayor Mitch Landrieu and advocates for removing the monuments won out.
"We will no longer allow the Confederacy to literally be put on a pedestal in the heart of our city," New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu was quoted as saying by The Associated Press. [...]
Mayor Landrieu said that "relocating these Confederate monuments is not about taking something away from someone else. ... This is about showing the whole world that we as a city and as a people are able to acknowledge, understand, reconcile — and most importantly— choose a better future."
Of course, choosing a better future devoid of racism isn’t exactly ideal for some Republicans. Conservative Republican Corey Stewart, who is running for governor of Virginia, is all about embracing his confederate heritage and doesn’t want anyone telling him or any other Southerner what to do with their monuments.
He tweeted this out earlier in the day.
It’s not really clear which Yankee Corey was referring to but he clearly thinks confederate heritage needs to be honored and protected. Except Corey isn’t really a Southerner. He’s from Minnesota. So technically he’s a Midwesterner who doesn’t have a dog in this fight. Maybe he should just sit this one out.
At any rate, if you need more proof as to why its a good thing that these monuments have finally come down, look no further than this post.
Though the city has been tight-lipped about where the monuments will end up, it looks like they are headed for a museum—where they finally belong, along with other relics of history.