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Ky. Human Rights Commission: Davis Statue Should Go

Kentucky Historical Society

The Kentucky Commission on Human Rights agreed to a handful of resolutions Thursday dealing with hot button topics in the Commonwealth.

Pushing back a recent decision by the Kentucky Historical Properties Commission to keep a marble likeness of Confederate president Jefferson Davis in the state Capitol Rotunda while revising the educational materials there, the commission voted unanimously in favor of a resolution urging removal – calling the statue’s presence “an affront to the memory and sacrifices of the hundreds of thousands of soldiers who gave life and limb to fight and defeat the Confederacy and its shameful institution of slavery.”

"We think that the appropriate place for Jeff Davis is in a historical museum or a history center, a place like that where they actually teach history," says commission executive director John Johnson. "You don't teach Kentucky history in the Rotunda. We think the Rotunda of the Capitol is probably the most highly honored place in our state."

Continuing in that same vein, the commission approved a measure calling for more statues of women achievers in the state and another requesting the amendment of a provision still present in the Kentucky Constitution that permits slavery as a punishment for a crime.

Resolutions are submitted to the governor, the legislature, and other agencies depending on their content. 

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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