Confederate Monument Relocated

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After months of legal disputes -- the confederate monument outside the madison county courthouse now has a new home just 5 minutes away.

We have team coverage tonight following the monument's relocation.

We begin with waay 31's will robinson smith.

He was the first reporter downtown when work to remove the statue started.

He joins us from it's new home with what the process was like and how the community responded.

The monument is now where many in the community have said it is most appropriate: among the confederate soldiers buried here at maple hill cemetary.

But not everyone who watched its relocation this morning celebrated.

The sight of confederate general john hunt morgan being lifted off its pedistal overnight was cause for celebration for many huntsville residents.

Joretha wright, watched the monument removal it was amazing to just see, finally, the hard work that people have put in, just stuck with the fight and this is just the end result of that.

I'm just -- i'm so, so proud that i'm able to be in this moment with the people that have worked so hard.

Marches and protests throughout the summer helped fuel the change while city and county leaders worked on a way to get the statue removed in a way they argue is legal.

Will robinson-smith even though the removal of the confederate monument itself did happen overnight, community activists i spoke with say they're celebrating all the time and hard work it took to get to this point.

Mitchell walker, president, greater huntsville inter-denominational ministry of fellowship it's just been a culmination of voices spoke at meetings and people standing here on the steps of the courthouse asking for it to be removed, protests.

It's just been a culmination of all these efforts together.

Some who turned out late thursday night said the move violates the law and the madison county commission didn't listen to enough voices.

William miller, opposed statue removal the county commission never has tried to do any polling or checking with the residents of this county.

They have listened to small groups.

But as the music of a boombox filled the courthouse square with music of celebration friday morning -- most who turned out called the change a victory for equality.

Joretha wright, watched the monument removal it's just a good time.

People are relaxed, they're cheering.

It's just a nice feeling with everything that has been going on and all the tension and division, it's just nice that something like this that's caused so much chaos is actually bringing people together.

Several people drove by to stop and take pictures of the monument here.

One woman i spoke with here says she feels like this is a much better home for the monument.

Reporting live at maple hill cemetery, will robinson-smith, waay 31 news.