(Frederick) Douglass to get place by Easton courthouse

[deutsey]

(I live in Talbot County and participated in a peripheral way to help get this resolution passed. Our peace group, BTW, held our weekly vigils in front of the courthouse and had a couple confrontations with some VFW members there...).

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.douglass17mar17,0,2691765.story?coll=bal-home-headlines

EASTON - The monuments on the courthouse lawn to Confederate heroes and soldiers who fought in Vietnam will soon be joined by a statue of Talbot County's most famous native son, Frederick Douglass - ending a bitter civic debate that provoked suggestions of racism against some who declared that the site belonged only to military memorials.

The County Council voted 3-2 yesterday to allow a tribute to Douglass on the lawn of the 210- year-old building, a spot veterans groups had insisted was "sacred ground" reserved for those who had served in the military.

Advocates had countered that a memorial to the famed abolitionist would help offset the granite monument to "The Talbot Boys," 84 county residents who fought for the Confederacy.

Though both sides had been careful to keep the debate civil, the disagreement had threatened to reopen old wounds.

MORE...

Also, in the local Easton newspaper (includes the full text of the resolution):

Panel OKs Douglass statue at courthouse
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=11133080&BRD=2101&PAG=461&dept_id=528511&rfi=6