Leaders Kick Off Initiative to Remove Confederate Monuments Across Georgia
Steve Gehlbach, WSB-TV, January 10, 2019
Civil rights organization, clergy and other leaders gathered Thursday to launch a campaign to remove Confederate monuments across Georgia.
Channel 2’s Steve Gehlbach was at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights as leaders announced the project. The push comes as thousands of visitors come to Atlanta for the Super Bowl.
The initiative is part of a statewide effort led by the Southern Poverty Law Center and the NAACP to allow communities to decide if they want to keep Confederate symbols in public spaces.
Actions will include a grassroots movement to advocate for the legislation and a rally the Saturday before the Super Bowl next month.
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“There is no historical context for Stone Mountain, period,” Richard Rose, President of the Atlanta NAACP said. “Nothing happened at Stone Mountain. Lee, Davis and Jackson didn’t ride up the mountain.”
Some residents didn’t agree.
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The NAACP also called out Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance-Bottoms, arguing that changing the name of one street is not enough and that the city needs to lead the nation. In September, Bottoms signed a bill to rename “Confederate Avenue” in southeast Atlanta to “United Avenue.”
“We are calling on elected officials who are now trumpeting the Super Bowl and putting up murals to act on social justice issues now,” Griggs said.
Gehlbach reached out to officials at Stone Mountain, who said removing the carving would require changes to state law.
