The nationwide anger over the killing of George Floyd has brought protests, and demands for racial justice, police reform, even defunding police departments. Protesters are taking aim not only at behaviors, institutions and structures, but at the symbols of America's sordid history with racism. The monuments and statues are being defaced, toppled or officially removed. Starting with the Confederacy. We've seen a move like this in the recent past: At least 114 Confederate symbols were removed in the years after a white supremacist killed nine people at a historic African-American church in Charleston, S.C., in 2015. In addition to notable Confederates, there have been moves to rid outselves of statues of Christopher Columbus, Ulysses S. Grant, and Thomas Jefferson. All individuals who, while celebrated in one aspect of their lives and their contribution to American history, were associated with the nation's ugly racial history. President Trump has said the statues must stay and commanded U.S. Marshals to protect monuments, and to arrest anyone attempting to vandalize them. Today we talk to historians, and a sculptor about what to do with these controversial pieces.
The Statue of Liberty was created to celebrate freed slaves, not immigrants, its new museum recounts
https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2019/05/23/statue-liberty-was-created-celebrate-freed-slaves-not-immigrants/
- Tamika Nunley, Assistant Professor of History, Oberlin College
- Henry Adams, Professor of Art History, Case Western Reserve University
- David Deming, Sculptor
- Kevin Kleps, Assitant Editor, Crain's Cleveland Business
