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Community Talks Controversial Monuments, Mayor Announces New Review

Just how should Lexington memorialize its complex and splintered Civil War past? That was the central question of a two hour long community discussion Tuesday night, spurred by the renewed national debate surrounding the Confederate flag.

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If there’s one word that dominated the meeting, it was “stories” – both the ones we tell ourselves about our history and the ones that often go unspoken. Speaking to the latter, panelist Art Shechet cited Cheapside Park, a popular social gathering spot which once served as the largest slave-trading location in the state.

"That is a sacred space sanctified by the suffering of many thousands of people," he told the packed house at the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning. "And we don't tell that story."

Credit Josh James / WUKY
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Activist Corey Dunn argues against keeping the Confederate statues in Cheapside Park

Speakers called on the city to shine a light on those darker chapters of Lexington’s past by removing the Confederate statues altogether, adding new memorials to honor the contributions of African-Americans, or by situating the text and markers within a broader historical context.

Disagreements among participants centered on the proper place for Cheapside's sculptures depicting Confederate generals John Hunt Morgan and John C. Breckinridge.

Community activist Corey Dunn argued memorials glorifying historical figures who forged their legacy through the oppression of blacks cannot stand, adding, "They are a constant reminder of what Lexington was built on... that's my back, her back, your back, his back. When does it stop?"

Credit Josh James / WUKY
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Historian Tom Templin urges caution when revisiting historical monuments

Responding to calls for complete removal, historian Tom Templin cautioned against uprooting unpleasant reminders of a bygone era.

"When we get into the business of sort of cleansing our public spaces of statues that represent wrong, a course of action that is no longer in favor, we're opening up a door that I think is really best not opened," he said.

One community member rose to speak in defense of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, but the vast majority of the audience was supportive of efforts to reconsider the monuments.

Yvonne Giles, a panelist and board member for Lexington’s African Cemetery #2, posed a question to the participants: "What is here that represents all of our community, not selected individuals who at the time had money, had influence?"

And residents will get the chance to answer – as Mayor Jim Gray announced the Urban County Arts Review Board will hold further public meetings on the statues and produce recommendations for the Urban County Council.

Note: WUKY was a co-sponsor of the forum. 

Josh James fell in love with college radio at Western Kentucky University's student station, New Rock 92 (now Revolution 91.7). After working as a DJ and program director, he knew he wanted to come home to Lexington and try his hand in public radio.
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