GRENADA, Miss. (AP) — A Confederate monument that had been standing on the courthouse square in Grenada, Mississippi since 1910 has been taken down. The monument, which had been covered in tarps for the past four years, was a source of division within the community regarding how to appropriately commemorate the past.
The decision to relocate the monument to other public land was made by Grenada's first Black mayor in two decades. A concrete slab has already been poured behind a fire station about 3.5 miles away from the square.
However, a Republican lawmaker from another part of Mississippi has raised concerns, stating that the city may be violating a state law that restricts the relocation of war memorials or monuments.
The Grenada City Council voted to move the monument in 2020, following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The monument removal was delayed due to various reasons such as tight budgets, state bureaucracy, or political delays.
The monument removal took place on September 11, with little advance notice. The new mayor and city council were determined to take action, leading to the disassembly and removal of the 20-foot stone structure.
The monument, which featured images of Confederate president Jefferson Davis and a Confederate battle flag, had been a divisive symbol in the town of 12,300 residents, where about 57% are Black and 40% are white.
While the city received permission from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History to move the monument, a lawmaker suggested an alternative location closer to the courthouse square, such as a Confederate cemetery.
The Confederate monument in Grenada is one of many in the South that were dedicated during the early 20th century. These monuments have faced increased scrutiny in recent years, particularly after a white supremacist killed nine Black people in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2015.
Despite the controversy surrounding the monument's relocation, the city council member expressed support for the move, citing concerns about ongoing division within the community. The monument has now been relocated to a secluded area behind the fire station, away from public view.
