Mitch Perry
While advocates supporting the removal of a Confederate monument in Tampa were celebrating on Thursday afternoon after meeting a fundraising goal required to move the statue. proponents of keeping the monument where it is say the issue isn’t over yet.
Save Southern Heritage Florida, the activist group that has been leading the charge to keep the monument as is, says it will file suit in federal court in Tampa on Friday to prevent the statue from being moved.
The group also says that their effort an recall Commissioner Sandy Murman has reached the point where the 200-word requirement for the petition has been completed. A group calling themselves “Conservative Response Team” told FloridaPolitics.com last month after Murman reversed her vote to support moving the monument that they would undertake an effort to have her recalled from the board.
“We consider today’s activity to be another battle in the war to keep the monument where it is and we will not give up,” says spokesman Doug Guetzloe, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment further.
Hillsborough Commissioners voted last month to remove the 106-year-old statue called “Memoria in Astern,” but only if the private sector paid for it within 60 days.
They then reversed themselves for the second time this summer on Wednesday, voting to give that private fundraising effort 30 more days to raise $140,000, or the statue would remain in front of the Hillsborough County Courthouse annex on Pierce St. in downtown Tampa.
Led by a $70,000 contribution from the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce and an additional $50,000 from Tampa businessman Bob Gries, that goal was met and exceeded by early Thursday afternoon.
Whether the potential lawsuit will derail efforts to move the statue by next month remain to be seen.
7 comments
Kevin Thurman
August 17, 2017 at 5:05 pm
Mitch, under what grounds are they suing?
Chris Woodard
August 17, 2017 at 5:37 pm
The monument isn’t being destroyed; it’s being moved to a cemetery under the care of the Daughters of the Confederacy, where it can be cared for and viewed with respect. These “conservative response team” jaspers have their noses out of joint because their pet symbols won’t be present in a seat of government any more. When you’ve lived with a sense of entitlement for long enough, equality starts to feel like oppression and attack (paraphrasing someone much more eloquent than I).
Steve Gardner, Native Floridian
August 18, 2017 at 3:22 pm
That same Monument after being moved too it’s New Location will not be protected and will be destroyed because it won’t be in the open like it is and should remain where it can be seen and protected by the Government
Ray Roberts
August 17, 2017 at 7:41 pm
And what law is being violated with the removal?
seber newsome III
August 18, 2017 at 5:25 am
That Confederate Memorial, as with so many, were put in that particular location for a reason and purpose. So that the sacrifice made by the soldiers would never be forgotten. If it was meant to go to a cemetery, they would have put it in a cemetery when erected. The memorial is not the problem, if you don’t like it, don’t look at it. People are the problem. Confederate memorials are the low hanging fruit, there is a much larger goal for these groups. Everything to do with the founding fathers is under attack, as the Constitution. These groups hate American, they hate veterans, and they hate law enforcement. Wake up people our values are under attack. Boycott these Tampa sports teams, they will get the message then!!!
Tolley
August 18, 2017 at 3:05 pm
Exactly! We need more of people like you
seber newsome III
August 18, 2017 at 6:43 am
That memorial like many others all over the South, was put in that particular location, so that people would not forget the sacrifice made by the Confederate Soldier. If it was meant for a cemetery, they would have put it in a cemetery. These people who want this moved, are the same ones who hate veterans and law enforcement. They want everything to do with the Washington and Jefferson removed too, because they owned slaves. You cannot judge people of the past with today morals, that is called presentism.
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