Recently, New Orleans spearheaded the removal of four Confederate monuments that many people in the past have often considered to be of grave historical importance. The move to bring down these monuments might have come about due to sections of the public demanding for the demolition of these structures since they feel that the memorials are symbols of racism and oppression that individuals from past generations might have experienced.
The first statue to be brought down was an Obelisk that was constructed back in 1891 as a way of honoring people who participated in the Reconstruction-era Battle of Liberty more than a century ago. The Obelisk holds a lot of history since it was also a meeting ground for the Ku Klux Klan at one point in time. Since bringing down these memorials is not something that many citizens advocate for, demolition experts exercise a lot of caution to conceal their identity so that they do not compromise on their security. Also, the activity took place under the watchful eye of security agencies.
Plans are underway to also remove the three remaining monuments. They include the statue of Robert E. LEE, that of P.G.T. Beauregard, and a memorial for Jefferson Davis. Demolition works of these great monuments have so far been done with a lot of secrecy and urgency, so as to prevent the endangerment of construction workers. Besides, only a few people in high places know where the Obelisk is kept for safe storage today.
With this move of removing national monuments, New Orleans wants to prove to American citizens and the rest of the world that it is ready to move on from political injustices of the past, as it yearns for a brighter and better future. The removal of these national symbols, however, has not been a smooth sail. In 2015, nine people happened to get killed when they tried to get rid of the Confederate battle flag. Thus, it is an exercise in which security agencies are using great caution so that they do not polarize the country.
Although these monuments consist of concrete as the primary building material, they have made people develop a lot of sentimental attachment towards them. To this end, they are not symbols that can be brought down without prior planning since they might encourage violence within New Orleans. According to the City Council of New Orleans, removal of these concrete symbols is only temporary. Plans are underway to have them housed in a museum for public viewing.
Relocation of Confederate memorials has attracted attention from people across the globe. Whereas most are against the move, others feel that the time has reached for the American people to move on. However, the vast majority who are against the relocation process see the move as a way to get rid of vital American History. They fear that future generations would not know what it cost for them to gain their freedom, and hence they would fail to value their nation.
Despite petitions from disgruntled members of the public, the City Council of New Orleans has a great focus on having these symbols eliminated from the city. The move to get rid of these memorials has found significant backing from members of the judiciary. However, other professionals feel that the town council is doing something wrong by having these symbols removed. Due to its lack to engage in public participation, they feel that city officials behind this act might be doing themselves more harm than good. If this trend continues, cases of violence against city officials might spark off. Thus, there is the need for complete discretion in such an exercise.