Dismantling of Louisville’s Confederate Monument Begins

In just the past few hours workers have begun work to dismantle Louisville’s Confederate monument in preparation for its relocation in Brandenburg. I believe this is the first large American city to make such a move.

Louisville MonumentThis is the part of the story that I believe The New York Times missed in its coverage of recent displays of the Confederate battle flag. Confederate battle flags may still be embraced by individuals and organizations, but they, along with the monuments, no longer represent the values of many communities throughout the South. It needs to be acknowledged regardless of whether you approve of their removal or re-location.

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21 comments… add one
  • Ronald E. Walker Nov 29, 2016 @ 7:50

    Your are so helpful to the South, Kevin. From looking at all the time you spend teaching one-percenter children, I thank you for taking the time to learn so much about the South.
    Regard,
    Ron Walker

    • Kevin Levin Nov 29, 2016 @ 7:52

      Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts.

      • Scott Ledridge Nov 29, 2016 @ 9:21

        Perhaps more people should take the time to “learn more” about the history of the South. That would certainly clear up a lot of these issues.

        • Kevin Levin Nov 29, 2016 @ 9:23

          I do what I can. 🙂

  • Patrick Jennings Nov 22, 2016 @ 16:11

    Strikes me as a long chain of reasoned arguments leaving most pleased with the outcome.

  • Andy Hall Nov 22, 2016 @ 6:59

    I read the lawsuit. It was a non-starter. The guy has no standing, the federal laws he cites have no application to monuments, and he signed himself, “Honorable Brennan J. Callan, Col.” You know the judge had to love that last part.

    • Shoshana Bee Nov 22, 2016 @ 9:28

      I really appreciate the follow-up to my queries. Obviously, I did not have the full story, and it seems that the article did not, either.

      • Andy Hall Nov 22, 2016 @ 10:00

        Local reporters typically have little time or experience to bring much depth to a story, and in a case like this are probably deathly afraid of being accused of bias if they call out the lawsuit for the rubbishy nonsense that it is.

  • Shoshana Bee Nov 20, 2016 @ 11:19

    I read over the article, and I am confused about one aspect: It is mentioned that the lawsuit/appeal is not final. I am surprised that dismantling has begun before the matter is fully resolved (I could have misread/misunderstood)

    • Pat Young Nov 20, 2016 @ 15:43

      No restraining order was issued, so the monument can be dismantled. Also, I can’t see how the plaintiff has standing to file the suit.

    • Andrew Raker Nov 21, 2016 @ 17:17

      The lawsuit has gotten little attention in the local press, mostly because the plaintiff is best known around here for going to federal prison attempting to sink the steamboat owned by Louisville.

      I wish I was making this up, but I am not.

  • Joshism Nov 20, 2016 @ 4:36

    How many (or more likely how few) Louisville residents served in the CSA? Was it even a company’s worth?

    • Ken Noe Nov 20, 2016 @ 5:35

      There were several companies but Louisville was definitely a Unionist enclave during the war. It had a strong German population among other things. and most of its economic ties were along the Ohio into the Midwest and Northeast.

      • Kevin Levin Nov 20, 2016 @ 5:56

        Thanks, Ken.

  • Jimmy Dick Nov 19, 2016 @ 17:00

    I know several of the more vocal heritage nuts are probably squawking crazy mad over this. One of them in particular kept crowing about how this monument was never going to leave. She was wrong as usual.

  • Eric Nov 19, 2016 @ 12:48

    “History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.” — Maya Angelou.

    Removing our monument, attempting to erase our history, hardly qualifies as “fac[ing] with courage” the ghosts of our past. The monument as it stood forced us to have uncomfortable conversations about where we have been, where we are, and where we are going.

    • Kevin Levin Nov 19, 2016 @ 12:54

      Removing our monument, attempting to erase our history…

      There is certainly an argument to be made that maintaining the location of these monuments offers opportunities to engage in the tough questions surrounding the past, but I fail to see how this ought to be understood as ‘your monument’ and ‘your history.’ It is everyone’s history.

      • Eric Nov 19, 2016 @ 12:55

        It is everyone’s history, that’s why I called it “ours.”

        • Kevin Levin Nov 19, 2016 @ 12:57

          My bad. I didn’t get the sense that you were being inclusive. Thanks for the clarification.

  • eclecticdog Nov 19, 2016 @ 12:03

    Considering 2/3s of Kentucky’s soldiers fought for Union, it is about time.

  • Scott Ledridge Nov 19, 2016 @ 10:41

    This is good to see! Go Cards!

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