Removal of references to the confederacy from monuments, parks, and street signs....

Reposted from earlier in the interest of transparency...

Proposal To Petition The City Council Of Jacksonville, Florida
To Remove All Confederate Monuments Including Names
Of Confederate Leaders On Schools, Parks, and Street Signs.

By: Robert Montgomerie

Between the years 1861 and 1865 there existed in this county a state of civil war. This war was fought over the right of one person to own another person to suit his purposes. That right was called slavery.
Many people died over that right during the Civil War, before it, and after it.

After the Civil War there was a period of reconstruction and after that period ended an unofficial period of racial separation known as the “Jim Crow Era”. This was a period where African Americans were denied their rights as citizens of this country. They weren't allowed a voice in civil matters, restricted to neighborhoods where they could live, restricted to occupation, and were expected to accept being treated like subhumans by the prevailing Southern White Culture of the times.

During that time monuments were constructed by that culture glorifying military leaders who served to defend the cause of an elite's right to own people as property. They were seen incorrectly by people of that era as heroes. These monuments were erected at a time when, as in many other areas of the south, there existed a period where African Americans were not given a representative voice as to what kind of monument they would like to have represent a landmark or an institution in their city. In a modern city of many cultures and many different types of people, it is important that this city represent all by not glorifying such embarrassing details of its past.

Therefore we at Occupy Jacksonville, as citizens of Duval County, petition the City Council to draft into law an order demanding that all monuments within the limits of Duval County erected to commemorate solders serving in the Confederate Army be rededicated to commemorate all solders who fought and died in the service of their country during the Civil War making no distinction, or reference, to what side they served on.

Also we at Occupy Jacksonville, as citizens of Duval County, petition the City Council to draft into law an order demanding that any public school, park, or street within the limits of Duval County bearing the name of any Confederate military leader, civic leader, or Statesman be removed and renamed by popular vote of residents in the area where said public school, park, or street is located.

We submit the petition in good faith as citizens of the city of Jacksonville, Florida in the spirit of creating a commitment between all citizens and their representatives in city government to partner in creation of a true “Bold New City of the South”.