Will he budge? Community leaders sign open letter calling for removal of monument
Donald Archer at the monument after it was vandalized
Aug. 28. By Dave Yochum. A wide variety of elected officials, church leaders and community leaders have signed an open letter to the Mt. Zion Monumental Association that maintains the Confederate Monument facing Zion Avenue in Cornelius, asking them to remove the statue as soon as possible.
The letter says the “reckoning happening across our country has once again brought attention to the monument in Cornelius” and asks members of the association to “hear our collective appeal for justice and to acknowledge the pain this monument continues to inflict upon Black people across Mecklenburg County and others who view it as a tribute to those who fought to keep Black people in chains.”
Signatories include NC Sen. Natasha Marcus, NC Rep. Christy Clark, Davidson Mayor Rusty Knox, Cornelius Mayor Pro Tem Denis Bilodeau, Cornelius commissioners Jim Duke and Thurman Ross, County Commissioner Elaine Powell, among others, as well as faith leaders Rev. David Hockett, District Superintendent, Metro District of the Western NC Conference of the United Methodist Church; the Rev. Stacy Cochran Nowell, Huntersville, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church/Huntersville; the Rev. Dr. Mike Moses, Huntersville, Lead Pastor, Lake Forest Church/Huntersville.
Carol Quillen, the president of Davidson College, also signed the letter, which states that “the relocation of the monument should not be seen as a conservative vs. liberal issue or a Democrat vs. Republican issue.” To read the full list of signatories, click here. 
The letter says: “It is, as we see it, simply a matter of justice. None of us should let pride or stubbornness prevent us from doing the right thing.” To read the letter, click here.
So far, association leader Donald Archer, a Statesville resident, has not responded. Sources said Cornelius Mayor Woody Washam, who did not sign the letter, is communicating with the association about how to move the monument. At a rally in front of the monument last month, he said it is “coming down, one way or another.”
Archer has not responded to requests for comment from Cornelius Today.
In June, Unity in Community, a group advocating for a conscious approach to equity and diversity, called on the Monumental Association to remove the monument. In July more than 150 people, including political and faith leaders, gathered peacefully in front of the monument, calling for its removal. The governing body of the United Methodist church has also asked for it to be removed from that portion of the church’s front lawn
During his speech in front of the monument at the July rally, Washam mentioned concerns that someone could get hurt if citizens take matters into their own hands.
The open letter says: “We do not advocate vandalism or violence in any way; however, there can be no doubt that not removing the monument leaves it open to such activity.”
Rally at Confederate Monument in July 2020/Dan Ahlers photography
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Removing and erasing all memory of our country’s history is a necessary step in converting our system of government to Socialism, and destroying the Constitution of the United States. We watched Hitler do it, we watched ISIS do it. Now we can watch it right in our own back yards.
I totally disagree of removing the monument. It was a part of everyones history, good or bad and therefore should remain. This goes for all historical monuments.I do not look at these monuments of celebration, but a way of learning.
I am truly sorry to see so many folks in our community that are so PC. No original thoughts of their own and can only band wagon to follow the cancel culture.Should anyone have the right to choose which part of history we acknowledge and or hide? I’m offended by some of the art is put out in the community but you don’t see me rallying for removal. As for the politicians who sign off due to posturing. You are weak.
Here’s the thing. This has nothing to do with cancel culture or anything of the sort. What IS happening, is culture is shifting. So while you view it as nobody having an original thought, what you are really trying to say is you don’t agree with where culture is headed. Which frankly is OK, but you have to realize that the majority of people out there now don’t agree with your thought processes. So since you’re in a pretty significant minority, you’re going to just have to learn to accept these things instead of trying to blame the imaginary boogeyman.
Jason — I call your attention to a recent Wall Street Journal / NBC News Poll published last month, which provides the following useful information related to four questions concerning Confederate Monuments in public spaces. The four questions that were asked of the participants are as follows:
1.Should Confederate Monuments be removed and destroyed? 10% of those polled supported this position;
2.Should Confederate Monuments be moved to museums or private property? 31%of those polled supported this position;
3.Should Confederate Monuments be left in place with contextual markers added?41% of those polled supported this position; and
4.Should Confederate Monuments remain in place as is? 16% of those polled supported this position;
More importantly, only twenty-two percent (22%) of African American participants in the poll wished to remove and destroy these monuments, while the vast majority, seventy-four percent (74%) fell within the middle ground in supporting options two (2) and three (3), please see the poll results at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/after-confederate-monuments-fall-where-do-they-go-11595509200.
You have to subscribe to the WSJ, but see for yourself.
Your offense at art isnt comparable to inscriptions praising the cause of slavery. You are not a descendent of slaves. In my case, my Civil War forefathers were caught up in an economic war in which they fought and died for rich plantation owners. They were drafted. They didnt get a vote. They were victims. No words about political correctness change the fact that these statues were put there at the turn of the 20th century to instill shame and fear in black people. The common soldiers were once more used by the rich and powerful to justify the cause of slavery and to implement Jim Crow laws throughout the South.
Those that forget the lessons of hhistory are bound to repeat it… As a society are we morphing into the Taliban, that destroys statues that don’t conform with the version of history they promote?
The so-called social justice movement has been coopted by operatives that aim to rewrite our history, change our sytem of government, and erase our culture. Revising our history is ta necessary step in the changes they wish to impose on us.
Many of us that immigrated to this country fleeing the tyranny and wreckage of “progressive” movements have seen this movie before – and it doesn’t end well.
-Advice of a Cuban immigrant with first-hand Experience of revisionist history: Don’t give in to the mob. It’s not about social justice – there are ulterior motives behind the facade.
The problem with the “history” logic is that these statues still stand as a glorification of the cause for slavery with no context. Real history puts things in context. We learn about Hitler in the context of his evil. We dont just hand out his mad ravings and anti-Jewish opinions without explanation of context. Thats what is missing at these statues. No context, just inscriptions that praise the cause of a war fought for rich slave owners.
I knew Mayor Wishy Washy would not sign the letter. What a typical political move.
Mayor Washam responds: “It is very clear to all those that have paid attention to my many comments regarding the Confederate Monument (which is clearly on private property) that I am personally doing all I can to encourage the monument committee to move/relocate this monument. The Town of Cornelius has no jurisdiction related to this private property. The monument committee continues to study their options including relocation. I hope to have additional conversations in the future and therefore hope to not alienate them from any potential conversations – since any movement/relocation is their decision. That’s not being wishy-washy—-it’s being strategic as I hope to help them reach a much-desired outcome for our community. Unity In Community understands this as well.”
Thank you to the decent human beings who are in favor of this action to help bring healing to our communities.
History as an excuse to continue the ugly status quo that continues to divide America…
Why do folks always fall on that dull tired sword? The German government does not allow displays of statues of Nazis, their memorabilia, or anything affiliated with the Nazi regime.
Why? Because it’s a SHAMEFUL part of German history. What the Nazi regime did to other human beings was atrocious.
People with basic common decency don’t find excuses to keep reminders like these out in the public. Why not put them in museums where people can CHOOSE to see them, not leave them in public places where people going about their day-to-day lives may have no choice.
Basic common decency calls us to act as if the “least” of us is just as important as the “best” of us. Isn’t that what our Bible teaches us?
I don’t want to see a statue celebrating a person who acted maliciously and viciously to deprive human beings of their right to life and liberty based on their skin color. It was wrong then and it’s still wrong.
Never should we think it’s okay for someone else to be treated in a manner we would not accept for ourselves or those we love. There is no justification for it.
Those who feel there is a reason to look down on others as less than need some healing in their hearts. I’m praying for them all.
So you are afraid to list your name. If you do not know history you will repeat it.
So you’re attempting to bully a person who chooses not to share their name by saying they are afraid?
Wow.
Removing does not bring healing. It brings division to the communities. There are those that appreciate history and these monuments are bookmarks to remind of the community loss in the war. Same thing is true with Northern monuments, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and war on Terror monuments. As for museums, the monuement is the base to the top,there are not many indoor museums that can fit them, but there are currently in an outdoor museum where they can be enjoyed. If ones does not enjoy then don’t look or visit. You state “Never should we think it’s okay for someone else to be treated in a manner we would not accept for ourselves or those we love.” So you are okay if a memorial for something you may care about? Maybe an ancestor memorial removed becuase of someone’s dislike for it? Furthmore its on priviate property, do you want to be told what flag or statue you can have in your front yard where the public can see? Look up Godwin’s Law — you’ll see your fallacy in the German accessment but you also fail to see we are NOT Germany either.
Very well stated. Thank you for your wisdom, forethought, and insight!
Please site specific art in the community that is more disrespectful aand intimidating than a soldier.
We’re not the minority… we’re the silent majority. The left is trying to rewrite the history they created. They’ve been trying to erase their roots in the KKK for decades and cast Republicans as the racists that they in fact are. Those that suppress history repeat it. Those statues should stand as a reminder of the left’s evil potential.
I suggest you spend a little more time reviewing history. To say that the left is pursuing a racist agenda is patently absurd. If that were true, why do more than 80 percent of Black voters lean Democratic? Lincoln was a Republican, and Southern whites became Democrats. Nixon devised the Southern strategy to bring conservative whites into the fold knowing that their beliefs were better aligned with the Republican party. The strategy worked brilliantly, to our collective detriment. Perhaps instead of tearing down this statue we could erect one celebrating Nat Turner, or the anonymous slaves who shaped the land up that way.
Removing the monument serves no purpose. It’s part of history and as such should stand. This statue has never caused anyone harm. Period. You may find it offensive but so what. I find BLM paintings offensive. Government has much more pressing issues than to oversee removal or relocation of an inanimate object. With forward thinking you’ll realize nothing will satisfy liberals and progressives. The statue stays.
Leave it alone! Now get to work doing something constructive for a change!
History, good and bad, is important to remember. By-the-way….it’s on private property, so shove off!
A quick search on the internet gives general information regarding the timing of the erection of these monuments. The victory over reconstruction was won. Jim Crow, torture and lynching were the order of the day.
Just as today a college student may find a noose hanging in the quad, Black citizens suffer the daily micro(?) aggression of the confederate soldier facing north. A reminder of the violence that was, and is the condoned order of the day. The statute of “the ideal confederate soldier” located on Main St. in Cornelius was dedicated on August 4, 1910. The saccharine speech made that day (exactly 51 years before the birth of President Barack Obama), by Judge Armistead Burwell, revealed no hint that he and and his fellow fighters were traitors. No, “By force of circumstances the ideal confederate soldier was a defender of slavery. He was not its willing advocate.”, stated the judge. He further reminded the crowd that the soldier’s mandate was “-to protect from taint the Saxon blood that courses through your veins-” He was most concerned that the perverse narrative of “the just enforcement of law and civil order” along with “…”love of race-his race-for the protection of the purity of the home-…” be passed down generation after generation. This is the last generation that should carry on the putrid arrogance that existed that day. That monument to kidnapping, theft of services, torture, rape and murder should come down – never to be seen again.
excerpts taken from: The Ideal Confederate Soldier address by Judge Armistead Burrwell. Presented by the Newsmaker Breakfast guest, Professor John Wertheimer