Confed Statue

The rally focused on things like racism and equality, but some spectators couldn't help but notice the confederate statue on the courthouse lawn.

Box.

This past weekend, demonstrators in columbus marched from the police department to the lowndes county courthouse.

The rally focused on things like racism and equality, but some spectators couldn't help but notice the confederate statue on the courthouse lawn.

Some call it an "ominous, looming figure."

Our cash matlock has more on the growing call to have the statue removed.

He joins us live from outside the lowndes county courthouse.

Joey... this historic marker is the topic of many online conversations.

Over years, it's even been brought up in a few board meetings among county supervisors.

Some people say it's time to remove the statue..

Others say it's a piece of history that should be preserved... and some believe if you look at the statue just right... it's actually a tribute to the ku klux klan.

"if you look at this monument at a certain angle, it looks like a figure head of a klu klux klan."

District 5 supervisor leroy brooks says he's been bringing up the issue with the confederate monument outside of the lowndes county courthouse for years now.

"i've brought it up at different junctions to the board of supervisors and it kind of fell on deaf ears, and you know, i don't really know what kind of historical value it serves."

But brooks isn't the only one upset about the statue.

Recently, several conversations have cropped up online.

Some advocating for the removal of the monument..

Others wishing to preserve it.

Brooks says talking about the issue online isn't enough.

"if you're really that strong about it, come to the board.

I don't know if the board has the sole authority to move it or not, but at least there needs to be some discussion and debate about the validity of maintaining this statue."

Brooks says many in the african american community do not look on the confederacy fondly.

"it's not something we cherish.

For many african americans, we do not see the civil war, as we've read it and studied about it, as something... it was the whole issue of maintaining slavery.

So, it's not something that we'll go around and pound our chest about."

He says before the statue can be removed, there has to be a conversation.

"let's find out who has the authority to move it, what it's going to take to move it, what kind of opposition is out there and find out what can we do?"

"i'm sure there are things that we could put here in this spot that pay homage to all americans, all citizens in lowndes county and columbus..."

At the moment, the board of supervisors does not intend to discuss the monument at their next meeting; however that could change.

Earlier this week the university of alabama took down memorials to confederate soldiers as well as plaques honoring students who served in the confederate army.

Reporting in columbus, cash matlock, wcbi news.

First