This is the petition to take down the statue of General John Brown Gordon in front of the Capitol building in Atlanta. He was a Confederate general, an opponent of Reconstruction, a white supremacist, a rumored Grand Dragon of the Klu Klux Klan and leader of the Georgia chapter, and a former governor of Georgia. General Gordon’s statue stands proudly in front of the Georgia State Capitol in downtown Atlanta, welcoming praise for his racist exploits. The state of Georgia once honored him for his love of racism, but the people of Georgia no longer wish to laud this man. This statue needs to be demolished in the name of furthering equality and progress in the state of Georgia. It is not a symbol of "Southern Heritage" as some might claim it is, but idolatry of white supremacy and racist ideals, which do not represent the beliefs of most citizens of Georgia. Honoring that racist legacy is not the future we want for this state. 

While taking down a statue does not achieve progress in the same way reform in the legislature does, moving forward into a brighter future in Georgia should happen without the presence of symbols of white supremacy in front of the very building where new laws are enacted. This statue and others like it belong in the past, and should not remain in place as we make leaps towards an equal and equitable future in Georgia. 

We call upon our mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms, and our governor, Brian Kemp, to take down this symbol of white supremacy. It is their responsibility to ignore the archaic Georgia law that forbids any removal of monuments like this one, and act in favor of the people of this state. 

"They [Confederate statues] were put up specifically with the intention to terrorize black communities and to reassert notions of white supremacy in moments where it felt like black people were achieving some sort of political or social mobility and  those statues served as symbols and reminders and catalysts to policies throughout Jim Crow that were profoundly harmful to black people." (Dr. Clint Smith speaking with Robert Reich, 16 June 2020)

If you wish to do more than sign this petition, call or email these people and demand change:

- Brian Kemp - (404) 656-1776

- Keisha Lance Bottoms - (404) 330-6054 or kbottoms@atlantaga.gov

- Your local senator!