BREAKING: DeKalb judge orders Confederate monument to be moved

[klook]

Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

In an order issued Friday afternoon, a DeKalb County judge said the “nuisance” Confederate monument in the Decatur square should be “immediately relocated.”

Judge Clarence Seeliger issued the order in response to a complaint that Decatur’s city attorney filed against DeKalb County. The order said the 30-foot obelisk — which has fallen back in the spotlight during recent protests about racism and police violence toward black people — should be placed into storage until further notice.

“In short, the Confederate obelisk has become an increasingly frequent target of graffiti and vandalism, a figurative lightning rod for friction among citizens, and a potential catastrophe that could happen at any time if individuals attempt to forcibly remove or destroy it,” Seeliger wrote.

Georgia state law makes it extremely difficult for local governments to relocate or remove Confederate monuments, though the updated law adopted last year does include language that allows for “appropriate measures for the preservation, protection and interpretation” of monuments.

Read more: https://www.ajc.com/news/local/breaking-dekalb-judge-says-confederate-monument-should-removed/L6pwyzbEiLmEQ9w2mXnGmK/

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This is fantastic news! For the past few years, there has been a persistent movement to get rid of this thumb in our collective eye. Last year the DeKalb County Commission installed a historic marker making it clear that the monument was erected in 1908 as part of the southern Jim Crow backlash against black liberation (see DeKalb’s Confederate monument to receive contextualizing marker, March 2019).

Congratulations to Hate Free Decatur and the Beacon Hill Black Alliance for Human Rights for their great work in bringing attention and shame to this disgusting monument! This is a great day!!

[jimfields33]

1. One of his last acts after 40 years on the bench. A lasting one for sure.

He actually leaves December 31st but I can’t imagine he does anything this significant the rest of the year. He’s done a great thing for the county, state and nation.

[klook]

2. Yes indeed.

Great capstone to a 35-year career as a judge.


https://www.dekalbsuperiorcourt.com/judges/clarence-f-seeliger/

[LuvNewcastle]

3. He might have saved a life.

People have been injured while pulling those damned things down.

[klook]

4. Yep. Good thing I don't own a pickup truck or a bobcat.

I would have been sorely tempted to drive over there and try to pull it down myself!

[LuvNewcastle]

5. Yeah, I'm kind of glad we have the last home

of Jeff Davis down here. It’s private property, so we can give them any Confederate monuments we might have, if they want them, and they’ll charge people to look at the shit. It’s a good arrangement. Now if we can just get the Mississippi flag changed, maybe we’ll be okay.