Date: June 17, 2020

To: Mayor Bryan Standifer
Mayor Pro Tem Gail Harrell
Councilmember Jenny Murphy
Councilmember Larry Thurman
Councilmember David Wease
Councilmember Cynthia Miller

Petition of the Removal
Of The
Statue of Confederate Solider Boy & Confederate Monument

Dear Mayor Standifer and City Council,
The Citizens of Monticello, Georgia are calling for the removal of the Confederate Monument and the Statue of the Confederate Solider Boy that sits in the square of Monticello. These monuments represent bigotry and injustice. They also represent a glaring reflection that systemic oppression and racism is still tolerated not only in our city but across the nation. These confederate structures glorify white supremacy and symbolizes pain and hardships that blacks had to endure right in our town and throughout the county, for example the lynching of the Barber Family on January 14, 1915. In 2020, these statues do not embody who we are as a community, our ideas, nor our values.
The protests against racism and police brutality in the wake of so many African Americans, we are demanding immediate removal of the confederate monuments. The intent of this petition is for the confederate monument to be removed and placed in a local museum with context and education. This will also remove the glaring declaration of oppression from a community space.
If the City of Monticello is unable to remove the statue due to the Senate Bill 77, we are asking the Mayor and City Council to request approval from the State of Georgia. This bill protects monuments and prevent from moving unless approved by the State of Georgia. We hereby demand a request for removal of this monument. 

 This Petition along with your response will be placed inside of the Monticello Newspaper.