Florida Democrats Push Bills To Take Down Confederate Monuments

TALLAHASSEE — Florida's monuments and holidays honoring Confederate leaders will not be around much longer if the state's Democratic lawmakers get their way.

House and Senate Democrats in Florida have filed bills that would remove the birthdays of Gen. Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis from among the legal holidays listed in Florida law. It would also remove Confederate Memorial Day from the list.

Rep. Shevrin Jones, a Democrat from Broward County, earlier this month filed a bill (HB 235) that would require the state to move to the state museum any Confederate memorials now on state property. There is a 135-year-old memorial to local Confederate soldiers on the Capitol grounds in Tallahassee.

Memorials and monuments to the Confederacy became a flashpoint in national debates about racism when white supremacists rallied to defend a statue of Robert E. Lee in Charlottesville, Virginia in August. One counter-protester was killed during the demonstrations.

The legislation will be considered during the 2018 session that starts in January.

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