Toward the end of last Tuesday night’s Monroe City Council meeting, Mayor Clark updated the community on the Council’s decision not only to keep the George Armstrong Custer Monument at the corner of Monroe Street and Elm Avenue in the city of Monroe but to also update it with information.

An online petition was started several months ago by a Monroe Township resident who said they wanted the statue moved because it, “represents the glorification of a man who led a genocide against Native Americans.”

There have been protests by different groups at the statue that called for the statue to be moved/removed as well as comments during the Citizen Comments sections of several Monroe City Council meetings to move the statue. There also have been communication from historians and residents asking for the statue to remain where it is because of Custer’s role in the Civil War that contributed to freeing of slaves.

Monroe’s City Council unanimously voted during a July 20th regular meeting to keep the statue where it is and update it with information.

Mayor Clark said the compromise Council agreed to is going to be a long-term process and project. Clark said, “That doesn’t mean it is stalling, it is a step moving forward. It’s a very complex discussion. While it may seem simple in some respects it is going to take the full prospective we have all talked about.”

Mayor Clark continued, “One of the questions is how do we facilitate this and how do we find the time with the staff that we have or the time we have ourselves to be able to do that? It’s not just the local voice. It’s also the regional and national voice and how do we make that outreach?”

Clark said the discussion so far was to find a facilitator for the process. There is a financial consideration as well. Clark added the city is looking into local and national foundation funding that may help facilitate the city’s ability to tell the entire story of George Custer’s life and military career.

Mayor Clark added, “We want to make sure we get this correct. Not just for the city and from the residents’ perspective but also when you talk about the county’s message and what they are going to be doing in relation to the museum. We need to have outreach to some qualified experts. And it’s not about the position of pro and con, it’s about getting information.”

Presentations to Council thru online webinars are being planned during future regular Work Sessions. The webinars will also be available to the public.