KCMO parks dept. to replace damaged lynching monument

The Kansas City, Missouri, Parks and Recreation Department will replace a damaged historical marker remembering the 1882 lynching of Levi Harrington after someone vandalized the monument last month.

TODAY KANSAS CITY TOOKTHE FIRST STEP TO MAKESURE A HISTORICALFIGURE GETS THERESPECT HE DESERVES.THE PARKS DEPARTMENTREMOVED A VANDALIZEDMONUMENT AND ISWORKING TO REPLACE IT.41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER CHARLIEKEEGAN GETS US CAUGHTUP TO SPEED.Glenn North // Co-founder of theCommunity Remembrance Project ofMissouri"it felt like this wasparticularlyheinous."GLENN NORTH DOESN'THOLD BACK.HEINOUS - HATEFUL - VILE.HE WAS OUTRAGED LASTMONTH WHEN SOMEONESAWED OFF THE LEVIHARRINGTON LYNCHINGMONUMENT AND THREW ITOVER A CLIFF AT KANSASCITY'S WEST TERRACPARK.Glenn North // Co-founder of theCommunity Remembrance Project ofMissouri"We're living in a very serioustime in America and, theseacts, we have to take themvery seriously."THE SERIOUS ACT LEFTSCRATCHES AND SCUFFSALL OVER THE MONUMENT.SO NORTH AND OTHERSCONVINCED THE PARKSAND RECREATIONDEPARTMENT TO REPLACEIT WITH A NEW MONUMENT.Chris Goode // Board of ParksandRecreation Commissioner"Make sure this site isrespected, it's valued,highlighted and honored.

Thisis a sacred space, it shouldn'be taken lightly."Nats- toolsFRIDAY THE PARKSDEPARTMENT REMOVEDTHE DAMAGEDMONUMENT.WHEN IT INSTALLS THENEW ONE - IT WILL ALSOINSTALL SURVEILLANCECAMERAS AT THE SITE SOTHIS DOESN'T HAPPENAGAIN.Glenn North // Co-founder of theCommunity Remembrance Project ofMissouri"It was like a hate crime, itfeltlike a retaliation."NORTH SAYS THEHISTORICAL MARKERHONORS HARRINGTON - ABLACK MAN WHO DIEDWHEN A MOB LYNCHED HIMON THIS BRIDGE FOR ACRIME HE DIDN'T COMMITIN 1882.THE POLICE DEPARTMENTCONTINUES TOINVESTIGATE THEINCIDENT.THE VANDALIZED SIGNWILL GO ON DISPLAY HEREAT THE BRUCE R WATKINSCULTURAL HERITAGECENTER.IT'LL BE PART OF ANEXHIBIT THAT HIGHLIGHTSHOW RACISM IN THE PASTAFFECTS THE SYSTEMICPROBLEMS OF TODAY.REPORTING IN KANSASCITY CHARLIE KEEGAN 41ACTION NEWS.LEVI HARRINGTON'SMEMORIAL IS ON THEAFRICAN AMERICANHERITAGE TRAIL OFKANSAS CITY.TRAFFIC ANCHOR DAISHAJONES HIGHLIGHTED THETRAIL IN A ONE-TANK TRIP.LOOK FOR HER