Expand / Collapse search
☰

Atlanta to remove Confederate memorial at Oakland Cemetery

By
Published  August 17, 2021 6:18pm EDT
Oakland City
FOX 5 Atlanta

Atlanta City Council votes to move Confederate monument

The move is to protect the monument from vandals, officials say. One of the senior members of the council expressed outrage over the criminal acts.

ATLANTA - The Atlanta City Council voted to remove a cemetery monument dedicated to Confederate soldiers.

It was not a vote of protest but a move to protect the "Lion of the Confederacy" sculpted more than 127 years ago.

Someone has been determined to deface or even destroy the symbol. Latex paint has been splattered all over it.

In another incident, a pickaxe was used to chip and dent the face of the Lion.

The Lion has been the signature for 3,000 unknown confederate soldiers.

In the coming days, the Lion will be taken to an undisclosed location for storage until a new venue can be arranged.

Howard Shook, one of the senior council members, expressed anger that the acts of vandalism had taken place numerous times "violating this sacred place".

Shook wanted to know if there had been any arrests. The answer is no. Oakland Cemetery has security, but it is limited.

The city will spend about $30,000 to have the monument removed.

WATCH: FOX 5 Atlanta live news coverage

_____

Sign up for FOX 5 email alerts

Download the FOX 5 Atlanta app for breaking news and weather alerts.