JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – There has been passion on both sides when it comes to removing the confederate statutes in Jacksonville.
In Hemming Park, the Confederate infantryman built in 1898 was taken down Tuesday after standing atop the monument for 122 years.
A woman who was passionately against the removal of the Confederate monument from Hemming Park voiced her opinion Tuesday, saying that no matter what side the soldiers were on, the statue represented dead Americans.
“Nobody cares about the dead. And if you don’t care about the dead, they’re not going to have respect for the living,” Jenna Bernstein said.
RELATED: Confederate statue removed from park overnight; others in Jacksonville also coming down
Debate ends in hugs, tearsLEARNING & LISTENING: A passionate discussion between two women over the removal of a Confederate monument in Jacksonville ended in tears and a hug. https://bit.ly/3f8Rh9A
Posted by WJXT4 The Local Station / News4JAX on Tuesday, June 9, 2020
Jeanette Green, an African American woman, heard her rant and stepped over to engage her in a conversation. She said she understands the other woman’s anger but she asked her to be open-minded to see how someone else might feel about the statue.
After talking for a minute, Bernstein choked up and said, “I want you to know that I love you.”
“I love you too. It’s OK,” Green said. “It’s OK to be passionate about what you believe in. Can’t nobody take that away from you.”
The women hugged as on-lookers clapped.
The pair acknowledged they are really fighting for the same issues. “We can’t get it done fighting against each other,” Green said.
It is unclear where the statue has been taken and where it will end up.