Should All Confederate Symbols be Protected? Or Erased?

     Alabama State Senator Gerald Allen (R-Tuscaloosa) wants to protect memorials and monuments. He doesn't mention the Confederacy in the title, but that's clearly what he has in mind.      
     He pre-filed a bill during the Summer called The Alabama Heritage Preservation Act. It will be considered three weeks from tomorrow in the February 2nd Legislative Session. The bill comes complete with lots of roadblocks, legal red-tape really, to make it more difficult to remove stuff:

c. Signage providing the text of the resolution at the site of the object of remembrance for eight consecutive weeks, to be placed at the expense of the controlling entity.

d. Two hearings, conducted by the controlling entity, for the collection of input from heritage, historical, genealogical, and preservation organizations, and from the general public.

e. Consideration and discussion of input from organizations and the general public by the controlling entity in a regular or called public meeting.

     Once a monument is up, it stays up. Like the statue in Mobile to Confederate Admiral Raphael Semmes, or the First White House of The Confederacy.
      It certainly would have prevented Governor Bentley from removing the confederate flags from the Confederate monument on the capitol grounds.


                                                    

    Some African American activists say the monuments are a reminder of the Confederacy's effort to keep their ancestors enslaved.