Georgia law on Confederate monument removal proves difficult

[TexasTowelie]

Since the violence in Charlottesville, VA between white nationalists and militant anti-fascist groups, which caused one woman to be killed by a vehicle running into a crowd of people, there has been an eruption to call for the removal of Confederate monuments and statutes across the country.

In Georgia, politicians running for Governor are calling for the removal of the Confederate symbols. However, it might not be that easy to remove Confederate statues and figures in according to Georgia law.

Here is what Georgia law states about the removal of historical monuments:

O.C.G.A. 50-3-1 (2) – No publicly owned monument or memorial erected, constructed, created, or maintained on the public property of this state or its agencies, departments, authorities, or instrumentalities in honor of the military service of any past or present military personnel of this state, the United States of America or the several states thereof, or the Confederate States of America or the several states thereof shall be relocated, removed, concealed, obscured, or altered in any fashion; provided, however, that appropriate measures for the preservation, protection, and interpretation of such monuments or memorials shall not be prohibited.

According to the law, Confederate memorials cannot be removed or altered.

Read more: http://evans.allongeorgia.com/georgia-law-on-confederate-monument-removal-proves-difficult/

[joshdawg]

1. Hmmmmmmm

Maybe moving it to a "museum" that has no windows and the doorway sealed. It would be preserved and protected........from everyone.
These are "appropriate" measures.
just sayin'.

[mdbl]

2. was thinking the same thing...

We could say they need to be in outer space to stop the metal erosion and have them shot up there on a rocket (all at the same time)

[PdxSean]

3. Did Bannon write this article's lead-in?

Last edited Sat Aug 19, 2017, 07:11 AM - Edit history (2)

Please tell me you see what they did there.

"Since the violence in Charlottesville, VA between white nationalists and militant anti-fascist groups, which caused one woman to be killed by a vehicle running into a crowd of people . . ."

It wasn't violence between anyone that caused Heather D. Heyer's death, it was a Nazi intentionally murdering her with his car! THAT'S what "caused her death"!

A two exclamation point morning. Doesn't bode well for my day.

[SunSeeker]

5. Yep, it is maddening.

I could see if they threw in the word "alleged" since he has not been convicted yet, but to essentially blame it on the victim, by blaming it on violence by both sides, is dead wrong and defamatory.

[TexasTowelie]

6. I admit that I missed the point that you are making

and on reading that statement again I agree that it was a lame attempt to rewrite what occurred in Charlottesville. I've used this source before and they tend to take a liberal viewpoint so I'm a bit surprised that the authors are trying to masquerade the incident. Thanks for pointing out the deception -- I read the words, but did not reflect on them diligently.

[PdxSean]

10. Not your fault.

We have the same issue with "conservative" media posing as "mainstream" media here in the northwest. They aren't even pretending to be objective anymore.

[SunSeeker]

4. These state laws protecting confederate monuments are unconstitutional and thus invalid.

This Georgia law in particular is egregious in that it explicitly protects monuments that "honor" the "military service of any past or present military personnel of ...Confederate States of America or the several states thereof." I would argue they are a violation of the Equal Protection clause of the 14th Amendment as it "honors" the fight to maintain slavery of African Americans in the US. This on its face discriminates against African Americans, as it gives the state's approval of the enslavement of African Americans.

Also, if residents chose to purchase and move the monuments to a museum where they are displayed and described as symbols of hate erected by racists, and the state decided to stop that as an inappropriate measure "for the preservation, protection, and interpretation of such monuments or memorials," based on the content of that interpretation (i.e. speech), then that would be a violation of these residents' First Amendment right to free speech.

[CottonBear]

7. Athens, GA had a public meeting regarding the monument downtown.

It's in the middle of Broad Street across from the University of Georgia North Campus and the Arches (historic entrance to North Campus.) It's a stone obelisk with engraved writing on the base.

The thought is to move it to the historic Oconee Hills Cemetery where there is another monument.

Athens, GA is a blue city in a super red part of Georgia.

[lostnfound]

8. Pattern of state laws being used by consercatives to stop liberal cities

Minimum wage laws, confederate statues, and sanctuary cities

There was a time when big cities held all the power. Gerrymandering, ALEC, and unlimited money from conservative PACs have changed that.

[CottonBear]

9. The GA GOP split Athens' congressional district in half

AND instituted non-partisan voting in our city. I now have Paleo-Taliban GOP congressman Jody Hice as my representative.

GOP SoS, Brian Kemp, is from the Athens area.