The mayor of Lexington, Kentucky, is taking action to remove two Confederate-era monuments from his city's former courthouse after the deadly clashes in Virginia.
Mayor Jim Gray revealed his intention Saturday after the attack in Charlottesville. He said he planned to announce it this week, but the incident prompted him to declare his intentions earlier.
I am taking action to relocate the Confederate statues. We have thoroughly examined this issue, and heard from many of our citizens.
— Mayor Jim Gray (@JimGrayLexKY) August 12, 2017
The tragic events in Charlottesville today have accelerated the announcement I intended to make next week.
— Mayor Jim Gray (@JimGrayLexKY) August 12, 2017
In a series of tweets, Gray said that he will ask the the city council to support his petition for removal of the monuments to the Kentucky Military Heritage Commission on Tuesday.
The statues of John Hunt Morgan and John C. Breckinridge are on the grounds of Lexington's former courthouse, which is set to become a visitor's center.
John Hunt Morgan served in the Mexican-American war, and fought for the Confederacy until his death in 1864. John C Breckinridge, who was the 14th Vice President of the US, owned slaves.
In a tweet, Lexington's mayor said "we cannot let them define our future."
Today's events in Virginia remind us that we must bring our country together by condemning violence, white supremacists and Nazi hate groups
— Mayor Jim Gray (@JimGrayLexKY) August 12, 2017
We cannot let them define our future.
— Mayor Jim Gray (@JimGrayLexKY) August 12, 2017
The "Unite the Right" rally that sparked violent clashes Saturday was originally called to protest the removal of a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
Mayor Jim Gray revealed his intention Saturday after the attack in Charlottesville. He said he planned to announce it this week, but the incident prompted him to declare his intentions earlier.
I am taking action to relocate the Confederate statues. We have thoroughly examined this issue, and heard from many of our citizens.
— Mayor Jim Gray (@JimGrayLexKY) August 12, 2017
The tragic events in Charlottesville today have accelerated the announcement I intended to make next week.
— Mayor Jim Gray (@JimGrayLexKY) August 12, 2017
In a series of tweets, Gray said that he will ask the the city council to support his petition for removal of the monuments to the Kentucky Military Heritage Commission on Tuesday.
The statues of John Hunt Morgan and John C. Breckinridge are on the grounds of Lexington's former courthouse, which is set to become a visitor's center.
John Hunt Morgan served in the Mexican-American war, and fought for the Confederacy until his death in 1864. John C Breckinridge, who was the 14th Vice President of the US, owned slaves.
In a tweet, Lexington's mayor said "we cannot let them define our future."
Today's events in Virginia remind us that we must bring our country together by condemning violence, white supremacists and Nazi hate groups
— Mayor Jim Gray (@JimGrayLexKY) August 12, 2017
We cannot let them define our future.
— Mayor Jim Gray (@JimGrayLexKY) August 12, 2017
The "Unite the Right" rally that sparked violent clashes Saturday was originally called to protest the removal of a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee.