The Confederate soldier statue located in front of the old courthouse / government building in Madisonville, KY is a symbol of racism and inequality, and it should be destroyed. It was erected at the site of the old tree that was used to hang black people in the past. It is a disgusting remnant and a message of hate in a town that's better than what such symbols represent. The statue could be replaced with an American soldier from our town, someone who had an impact on the world that came from Madisonville, or someone who is the spirit of the town. Most options are better than a soldier who turned his back on his country to fight in a rebellion. It is for these reasons that we demand that the statue be destroyed.