The controversy over a Confederate monument in Hillsborough County is far from over. 

  • Group protesting Hillsborough courthouse Confederate monument gathers Tuesday
  • Commission voted 4-3 last week to leave the Confederate monument
  • Hillsborough officials vote to leave Confederate monument
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Dozens of people showed up Tuesday morning to show they are not satisfied with the outcome from a Hillsborough County Commission vote last week.

Pastor James Golden with the AME Church was among the leaders of gathering. 

"The statue is a symbol of a time gone by," Golden said. "That no one hopes comes back again." 

Bay News 9 reporter Dalia Dangerfield said the group was chanting, "Take that statue down."

Last week, the commission voted 4-3 to leave the Confederate monument outside the Hillsborough County courthouse in place. 

The division and emotion was clear inside the packed commission meeting.

"An American veteran is a veteran," one man said of keeping the monument. "They deserve to be respected. To disrespect a group of American veterans is to disrespect them all."

Commissioner Les Miller originally called for the removal of the statue, saying the only purpose it serves is reminding people of this country's racist past. Commissioner Victor Crist, meanwhile, who voted to keep the monument in place, is considering a new proposal. 

"Whether we kept it or removed it or modified it, there were a sizable number of people who were still going to be upset and angry," Crist said. "So how do you deal with that?"

His solution?

A mural depicting the faces of America today - all races, ethnicities and religions. However, some organizers planning to gather on Tuesday have said a mural would be a "slap in the face to the community."