Jax NAACP warns confederate monuments could pose a public safety threat

'The risk grows for serious illness, injury, or death.'

In a call for Jacksonville to remove monuments to the Confederacy, the local branch of the NAACP is making the case that it’s a matter of public safety.

Specifically, if local leaders do not bring the monuments down, protesters just might.

“The NAACP asserts that failing to remove the statues present a severe and growing threat to public safety if protesters attempt to take down confederate statues themselves or confront others who are doing so. The risk grows for serious illness, injury, or death,” reads the press release from Isaiah Rumlin, President of the Jacksonville NAACP chapter.

The monuments in question: a statue commemorating the women of the confederacy at Springfield Park, formerly known as Confederate Park, and a bandstand at the old city cemetery.

One city that just removed its final monument was invoked as part of this argument.

“On December 12, 2022, the City of Richmond, Virginia, the capital of the Confederacy for most of the Civil War, removed its last city-owned confederate statue more than two years after it began to purge itself of these atrocities. If the City of Richmond can remove these atrocities so can the City of Jacksonville,” the NAACP contends.

Additionally, the NAACP spotlighted Mayor Lenny Curry‘s consistent call since 2020 to bring the monuments down in total. Curry removed one from what is now James Weldon Johnson Park, but lacks the budgetary authority to remove the Springfield edifice.

“I’ve given the Jax City Council a budget that includes the needed funds to remove the monuments. Obviously, I think they should. They have decided to ignore the issue. Each member should take a position. Yes or No on monument removal. Take a vote. Do your job on tough issues,” Curry said.

The issue continues to be one of great controversy in Jacksonville. On Tuesday, activist Ben Frazier, a senior citizen who requires a scooter to get around comfortably, was brought to the ground and arrested during public comment for violating City Council rules. The week before, the Save Southern Heritage group flew a plane with a confederate battle flag, admonishing Curry to “stop the hate.”

The City Council rejected a proposal in June to slot $500,000 for monument removal, with “alternative funding” sought to cover inevitable cost overage.

What’s clear is this issue remains a live one, especially in the face of the City Council’s inaction, and if you believe the NAACP, a dangerous one as well.

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11 comments

Paul Passarelli
December 15, 2022 at 7:00 pm

“Nice monument you have there. It’d be a shame if something happened to it.”

That sounds like a statement of extortion. Perhaps the person who made that statement needs to be investigated for other RICO crimes.
- James H Swor
  December 15, 2022 at 11:42 pm
  
  Good assessment and totally accurate.
NAACP making threats to the public
December 15, 2022 at 7:22 pm

so now the naacp. is making threats, the monuments are not making threats,,, the people like Ben Frazier are the problems.. if the city council gives in to threats, they are opening a can of worms, that whenever someone wants something, go down to city council and throw a temper tantrum and. you will get what you want..
Do not give in to threats
December 15, 2022 at 7:29 pm

Ben Frazier was. not brought to his news, he fell on purpose. If the city council gives into threats from the NAACP, then our city is gone. If the city council allows people to come down and throw temper tantrums to get what they want, it opens a can of worms,
Stand up to these BLM woke terrorists city council members, we got your backs, both in the council chamber and on Election Day
- James H Swor
  December 15, 2022 at 11:43 pm
  
  Thanks for standing up!
Harlan
December 15, 2022 at 10:51 pm

Removing history only dumbstruck down future generations to se historical mistakes of a nation. Confederacy was created by Democrats along with slavery.. Sad part of American history..
Frankie M.
December 15, 2022 at 11:24 pm

Maybe we should look to Germany and all those great monuments to the Nazis for inspiration?
- James H Swor
  December 15, 2022 at 11:45 pm
  
  Maybe you should actually read history instead of media provided “Clif Notes”…
- Boaz
  December 16, 2022 at 4:10 am
  
  Why are you so fascinated about the 12-year reign of the National Socialist German Workers Party? What about the nearly half-century reign of fascism in Spain and Portugal into the 1970s all the while these nations were admitted into NATO?
- Paul Passarelli
  December 16, 2022 at 2:41 pm
  
  The German Chancellor created monuments to himself while he was alive. He abused his own people and marshalled them to commit acts of violence & depravity. He was defeated in battle, the *victors* are the ones that took down those monuments — in real time. There was no historic precedent or value.
  
  The JAX monument is an historical emblem. No one from there is being drafted or imprisoned for their beliefs or heritage. The people who want to take it down have done absolutely *nothing* to claim the right or privilege of taking it down. Nor has the historic figure done anything personally to them. The monuments are common and inherited wealth of the city and beyond.
  
  So, unless the the complainants are planning on ‘invading’ the city and taking over, any action to remove the monument by force is simple vandalism, not liberation.
  
  Hyperbole is never a viable substitute for critical thinking.
Inciting a riot/vandalism
December 16, 2022 at 4:41 am

Report has been filed with state attorneys office against Isaiah Rumlin of the Jacksonville branch of NAACP, Will be contacting JSO today.