Standing Still in History: Monuments of Racist Figures Remain Controversial

Many still working to remove monuments to racists.

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Monuments of Racist Figures Remain Controversial - There has been a good deal of controversy about statues, monuments and schools memorializing historic figures considered to be racist. In some cases, the protests of Black officials and community groups have been successful, but not always. A look at controversial statues across the nation. — By Jonathan P. Hicks (@HicksJonathan) (Photo: Erik S. Lesser/Newsmakers) 

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A Statue at the Georgia Capitol Is Removed - After a lengthy campaign, a statue of Tom Watson, a populist, newspaper editor and politician, was removed from the Georgia State Capitol in November. Watson became known for his vicious statements against African-Americans. (Photo: Stephen Morton/Getty Images)

Photo By Stephen Morton/Getty Images

A Jacksonville School Changes Names - The school board in Jacksonville, Florida, voted recently to rename the Nathan B. Forrest School after protests from parents, students and community groups. Forrest served as the first Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan.(Photo: Wiki Commons)

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A Jacksonville School Changes Names - The school board in Jacksonville, Florida, voted recently to rename the Nathan B. Forrest School after protests from parents, students and community groups. Forrest served as the first Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan.(Photo: Wiki Commons)

Calls to Remove a Statue of a Georgia Senator - Black elected officials in Georgia are advocating the removal of a statue of John B. Gordon, a confederate general and U.S. senator. Gordon endorsed measures to preserve white dominance and was thought to be a leader in the Ku Klux Klan. (Photo: wiki commons)

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Calls to Remove a Statue of a Georgia Senator - Black elected officials in Georgia are advocating the removal of a statue of John B. Gordon, a confederate general and U.S. senator. Gordon endorsed measures to preserve white dominance and was thought to be a leader in the Ku Klux Klan. (Photo: wiki commons)

Loud Protests Over Silent Sam - There have been numerous protests over the years at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill over the presence of a monument to university alumni who died in the Civil War. The “Silent Sam” memorial has been on the campus since 1913. (Photo: Wiki Commons)

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Loud Protests Over Silent Sam - There have been numerous protests over the years at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill over the presence of a monument to university alumni who died in the Civil War. The “Silent Sam” memorial has been on the campus since 1913. (Photo: Wiki Commons)

Photo By Photo: Wiki Commons

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New Park Names in Memphis - The majority-Black Memphis City Council recently renamed Confederate Park, Jefferson Davis Park and Nathan Forrest Park, the latter named after a leader of the Ku Klux Klan. They are now called Memphis Park, Mississippi River Park and Health Sciences Park.  (Photo: Adrian Sainz/AP Photo)

A Statue of Confederate General Offends Many in D.C. - Albert Pike is the only Confederate general with an outdoor statue in Washington, D.C. It has been the target of protest by local groups, who say that Pike was a chief founder of the Ku Klux Klan in Arkansas. The statue stands at Judiciary Square. (Photo: Wiki Commons) 

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A Statue of Confederate General Offends Many in D.C. - Albert Pike is the only Confederate general with an outdoor statue in Washington, D.C. It has been the target of protest by local groups, who say that Pike was a chief founder of the Ku Klux Klan in Arkansas. The statue stands at Judiciary Square. (Photo: Wiki Commons) 

Black Officials Want Statue Removed of Longtime Senator - Richard Russell of Georgia served in the U.S. Senate for almost 40 years. He is also criticized by Black officials in Georgia as an avowed racist who spent much of his public life seeking to block civil rights measures. They want his statue removed from the state capitol. (Photo: Wiki Commons)  

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Black Officials Want Statue Removed of Longtime Senator - Richard Russell of Georgia served in the U.S. Senate for almost 40 years. He is also criticized by Black officials in Georgia as an avowed racist who spent much of his public life seeking to block civil rights measures. They want his statue removed from the state capitol. (Photo: Wiki Commons)  

Photo By Photo: Wiki Commons

A Protest Over Confederate Figures Inspired by Trayvon - Protesters angry over the death of Trayvon Martin expressed their displeasure in 2012 by spraying graffiti on monuments in New Orleans honoring Confederate General Robert E. Lee, and Jefferson Davis, the president of the confederacy. (Photo: Klaus Nowottnick/DPA /LANDOV)

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A Protest Over Confederate Figures Inspired by Trayvon - Protesters angry over the death of Trayvon Martin expressed their displeasure in 2012 by spraying graffiti on monuments in New Orleans honoring Confederate General Robert E. Lee, and Jefferson Davis, the president of the confederacy. (Photo: Klaus Nowottnick/DPA /LANDOV)