Days after a heated protest over the Manatee County Commission's discussions about removing a Confederate monument, the monument has been removed.

  • Manatee commissioners voted to remove statue until a decision can be made on permanent location 
  • Manatee officials boarded up Confederate monument ahead of rally earlier this week
  • Local activists had called for removal of statue at Manatee courthouse
  • Previous story: Hundreds protest Confederate monument

After lengthy public debates over the past week, County Commissioners voted on Tuesday to remove the monument until a decision can be reached on a relocation site.

Crews removed the monument from the courthouse grounds early Thursday. The monument was taken to a secure, undisclosed location in the county.  

Authorities said the monument was removed overnight to avoid foot traffic at the Courthouse and to prevent major traffic disruptions in downtown Bradenton.

 

 

Commissioners reached that conclusion based “on the concerns for public safety of the citizens of Manatee County” since the monument had become the focal point of an intense community debate.

Various groups showed up Monday afternoon to protest the Confederate monument. Counter-protesters showed up with their signs and flags and chanted that the monument should stay and that it’s a part of history.

Three arrests were made. 

The monument has sat in front of the Manatee County Historic Courthouse since 1924. 

After an emergency meeting on Friday, Manatee Commissioners voted 6-1 to cover up the monument, which has a Confederate flag on one side and the names of Jefferson Davis, Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee etched on the other sides. 

Monument damaged during moving

There was a mishap while crews were removing the spire. 

The straps around the spire were not completely attached to the base of the monument when a crane lifted it. It fell to the ground and broke in two pieces.

"We took every safety precaution to respectfully move this to a safe location," said Property Management Director Charlie Bishop, whose department worked with a local contractor that has extensive experience moving heavy objects. “Thankfully no one was hurt when the spire came down. 

"We’re confident that it can be fully repaired and safely placed in a permanent location once the location is determined."