Across the South and even here in Florida, cities have debated what to do with Confederate statues.
- Lakeland commission to vote on Confederate monument
- Some commissioners are in favor of moving the statue
- Other support keeping the statue in Munn Park
Some have relocated them out of city parks and into cemeteries like the city of Orlando.
In Lakeland, the commission had originally planned to host a public forum on the topic. However on Friday, when trying to reschedule the forum, the commissioners voted 5-2 to cancel the forum altogether out of safety concerns and fear that outside groups would take over the discussion.
Several of the commissioners said they’ve heard from hundreds of residents and have already made up their minds how they'll vote on the issue, so they didn’t see the need for a public forum.
Commissioners Edie Yates, Phillip Walker, Bill Read and Mayor Howard Wiggs have all said they support keeping the Confederate statue in Munn Park, which is located in the center of downtown Lakeland.
“I think the super majority of the people in Lakeland want it to stay there,” said Read during an agenda study meeting Friday. “And that’s the way I would vote to accommodate the masses.”
Commissioners Justin Troller, Don Selvage, and Jim Malless, all do not believe the monument belongs in a public park, in the center of the city where many events are held.
“It’s part of our past. I don’t want to see it destroyed,” said Malless. “I want to see it moved and I’d like to see something else in there that talks about Lakeland’s future versus the past.”
“I think we have to accept the fact that monument is offensive and painful to some people and for good reason,” said Commissioner Don Selvage. “Whatever you decide why that war was fought, and the Jim Crow era that followed, it was essentially about enslaving some of our people and suppressing our people.”
Wiggs, Yates and Walker are for the plan presented by resident Ashley Troutman that suggested adding to the monument other statues that represent the diversity in Lakeland.
“Let’s complete the story. Let’s complete what happened, said Walker, the only African-American sitting on the commission. “As a result what came about, I think if you do that, you embrace this entire situation.”
Although commissioners say they’ve received hundreds of emails and letters, they’ll hear from the public on Dec. 4 during the commission meeting. They will then vote on a resolution on whether to add to the monument other statues representing Lakeland’s heritage.
People who have an opinion on the topic and can’t attend that meeting are encouraged to email their commissioner.
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