Watch: New Orleans Mayor's Speech on Confederate Monuments That's Going Viral

[DonViejo]

by Justin Baragona | 10:57 am, May 24th, 2017

Last week, the City of New Orleans removed a 16-foot statue of General Robert E. Lee from the center of Lee Circle. This was the last of four Confederate monuments that were taken down in the city after the city council had declared them to be a public nuisance. The removal of the statues and monuments led to divisive political debate and heated exchanges at the sites, and even some arrests.

In an address that has since gone viral, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu highlighted that these monuments weren’t innocent commemorations of a bygone era. Instead, these were erected as part of a movement known as The Cult of the Lost Cause as a way to rewrite history and make it that the Confederacy wasn’t on the wrong side.

-snip-

http://www.mediaite.com/online/watch-new-orleans-mayors-speech-on-confederate-monuments-thats-going-viral/

[ghostsinthemachine]

1. I wish I was that articulate

People are so divided, and this is perfect. I love New Orleans, but the OBVIOUS discrimination is palpable. Time to tear down the institutions.

[Orrex]

2. On Facebook yesterday, a proud Confederate veteran here in western PA...

(at least, that's what I assume he was, given his zealot's passion for defending the Confederacy) declared that the people taking down these sick, sad monuments are terrorists.

I told him that I understood why the South want to protect the Confederacy's participation trophies, and then he blocked me.


For the record, I'm not attacking the south nor endorsing the stereotype of the "racist southerner." If anything, my esteemed neighbors north of Pittsburgh are every bit as racist as any caricature you'd care to name.

[matt819]

3. Watch this video

Of course, we here at DU don't need to watch it. The 63 million who voted for 45 is the audience. If you're not moved by this speech and what it represents, you have no soul.

[Amaryllis]

4. Brillian, perceptive and courageous. Deserves to go viral.