Racial tensions rise over Confederate monuments
8th May 2017 · 0 Comments
More than a week after the City of New Orleans took down the Battle of Liberty Place monument in the middle of the night, racial tensions continue to rise as people on both sides of the argument over what to do about the Confederate-era statues debate the issue.
Since the Liberty Place monument was taken down and transported to a city-owned warehouse on April 24. a heated debate has ensued between the president of the firefighters’ union and the Landrieu administration after speculation about what role five or six firefighters played in the removal of the obelisk.
The union president, Nick Felton, told the press that the work the firefighters were asked to do was more suited for law enforcement officers while the Landrieu administration said that the firefighters were part of a security team that is often used for major events and tasks across the city. Days after the monument was removed, firefighters and their families held a rally during which they called for the resignation of NOFD Supt. Tim McConnell, who was one of the firefighters identified at the site of the Liberty Place monument.
At least one white supremacist has been charged with making death threats against New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and several people were arrested and/or detained after a heated confrontation at the Jefferson Davis monument in Mid-City.
Since the Liberty Place monument was taken down, the city has witnessed the influx of Confederate monument supporters from neighboring states like Texas, Alabama and Mississippi. The supporters have been camping out and holding vigil around the clock.
WWL News reported Tuesday that two of the three Confederate monuments slated for removal from public spaces have been hit by vandals recently.
A week after the Liberty Place monument was taken down. someone spray-painted messages like “History Never Dies” and “White Supremacy is a Lie” along the base of the Robert E. Lee monument.
The P.G.T. Beauregard statue, near the entrance to City Park, had also been defaced by red paint and someone left a banner on it.
Hundreds of people representing both sides of the issue gathered Monday night at the Jefferson Davis monuments, leading to angry protests, heated exchanges and shoving matches. Several Mid-City restaurants complained about the charged atmosphere and there were several media reports of heated exchanges between protesters and Mid-City patrons.
After breaking up a series of altercations and detaining several protesters, the NOPD decided to limit access to the area immediately surrounding the Davis monument.
In all, about 40 NOPD officers arrested five people and separated angry protesters Monday night before placing barricades and trucks around the Davis monument. Although the mayor has said that the City of New Orleans will delay the statue-removal project until Jazz Fest wraps up, it appears that city officials are setting the stage for the removal of the Jefferson Davis statue.
The five people arrested Monday were Norman Hilred. 43, New Orleans, disturbing the peace; George Johnson, 42, Horn Lake, Miss., crossing police cordon; Dan-Ramiah Bingler. 33, New Orleans, possession of marijuana and public intoxication; Theresa Wilden, 35, New Orleans, disturbing the peace; and Columbia Bullion, 32, disturbing the peace.
With Confederate battle flags lying against the Davis monument or being waved by monument supporters and others brandishing assault rifles, the scene at the Davis monument appeared more like a film about racial unrest in Mississippi or Alabama than it did about life in New Orleans where self-described white supremacy or Confederate supporters and civil rights and justice advocates don’t often share the same space.
Members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., the nation’s oldest
Black greek-letter fraternity, held a vigil Thursday at the Jefferson Davis monument.
A contractor told FOX 8 News in a recent interview that he was recently targeted by Confederate monument supporters for erecting a fence around the Jefferson Davis monument. The contractor, whose identity was not disclosed, said monument supporters contacted him after seeing the name of his company on his vehicle and used racial epithets to refer to New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and Black residents.
The mayor denied rumors that the City had planned to take down the remaining three Confederate monuments last Monday or Tuesday but remained mum on when the work would resume.
After taking down the Battle of Liberty Place monument on April 24, Landrieu said at a press conference that the monuments would come down “sooner rather than later.”
At press time, Take ‘Em Down Nola was preparing for a Confederate monument protest that was set for Sunday. The march was scheduled to begin at Congo Square and wrap up with a rally at the Robert E. Lee monument on St. Charles Avenue.
While some out-of-towners have contacted the City of New Orleans and criticized efforts to relocate the monuments, a number of tourists in the French Quarter told local news outlets that they would continue to come to New Orleans to enjoy the food, music and culture.
This article originally published in the May 8, 2017 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
