BRUNSWICK, Ga. – A Confederate statue has been removed from a Glynn County park where it has stood since 1902.
The Confederate monument at Hanover Square -- located on public property within Brunswick city limits -- was taken down Tuesday.
Brunswick Mayor Cosby Johnson released a statement on social media about the removal.
“This morning our City removed the singular vestige of a bygone and abhorrent era in our Nation’s history. Through community debate and engagement on April 7, 2021, the City Commission voted overwhelming to remove the statue from our City. With respect to that brave decision and alongside the devoted and powerful people of Brunswick, my administration and this commission executed the will of our citizens in removing the confederate statue from Hanover Square,” the statement reads, in part.
Johnson concludes the statement by saying, “Let today stand as a monument to the ever-moving tide that brings us closer to love, equality, and understanding.”
The Brunswick News reported that the monument to Confederate soldiers was loaded onto a truck and trailer in three pieces, and as of Tuesday afternoon, it was being stored at the city’s Public Works facility.
The monument is privately owned, and the city said it is temporarily storing it until the statue’s owners pick it up.
There are mixed feelings from people who live in Brunswick about the removal of the more-than-a-century-old landmark.
“With it being 2022, it probably should have been removed years ago,” said resident Jerea West. “I don’t think it’s enough just removing the statue.”
“It shouldn’t have been removed. It should have been a reminder of the things we’ve done wrong to go ahead and build America,” resident David Lee said. “It’s something that happened and shouldn’t be taken away and tried to be erased from the history books.”
“It’s officially removed, but isn’t going to change anything in society today?” resident Lisa Parker said. “I’d just like to see people come together and stop basing everything on race.”
During the fall 2021 trial of the three men who were convicted of murder in the street chase and fatal shooting of Ahmaud Arbery, the statue was wrapped in plastic. As of early this year, the statue remained covered in plastic from top to bottom.