Linda George…
“ I think the monuments should be taken down because just for what they represent and where we are trying to get to in America. I just feel like Black people you know, we need to be respected for everything that we’ve done, we need to be included and you know what that is a good step towards the future but there still a lot of work to be done. So Im glad we’re taking these steps though because everyday I walk down these streets I feel a lot safer knowing that someone cares, someone’s looking out for me, so it’s good.”
Alice Coope…
“I think they should be taken down and replaced. Because I know it’s about slavery and we’re passed that and it’s like people are trying to bring that mindset back, this is not the 1960s or 1800s we should move on and be about our business and love everybody.”
Aidrien Wilkins…
“I think they should be taken down to be honest. I think that the reason why they were put up much farther after the fact, was to give a place for the bastions of white supremacy and kind of herald back to an older day of when certain ideas were prominent and it’s kind of flying in the face of the progress that we’ve made, so I think it’s time.”
Larriett Young…
“I do think that the confederate monuments should be taken down because how can we ever unite as a people if we’re constantly reminded of what originally divided us.”
Sidney Daisy…
“I guess it depends on the community that is involved or around the monument, just like these sidewalks here on Broadway, the community didn’t get a chance to vote on them, I mean I wouldn’t want my tax dollars to go to something other than sidewalks pretty colored sidewalks while schools have ceilings that are falling. So I’d rather spend money on that then a monument.”
Kimberly Pringle…
“I believe that the monuments should be removed I think there is a false equivalence that removing monuments means erasing history, there are things that we should never forget, but there are also things that we shouldn’t memorialize and praise or put on a higher pedestal especially when they represent hatred and bigotry.’
Images by Aaron Allen
