Pittsboro’s Confederate monument was removed from its pedestal in front of the town’s courthouse on Tuesday night, with many supporters of the statue and their opponents gathered around to witness its final moments. For many who wished to see the statue remain at the Courthouse, the statue represented Southern heritage, ancestry and pride. Many of those who did not support the monument saw it as a reminder of white supremacy and slavery.
An anonymous source told ABC 11 News, “I know my history, and I’m not sure these people down here waving the [Confederate] flags– I’m not sure they know [it]. People were waving the Confederate flag and it was a source of pride. Now, not so much because of what it does to people. If it makes people uncomfortable, it shouldn’t be tolerated.”
The source suggested that the statue be placed at Siler City Veteran’s Memorial.
Hundreds of people on both sides of the issue gathered on Oct. 19 around the monument. During the day, many people camped around the statue. About 200 supporters of the statue held signs and waved flags. Soon, people were gathering from Durham, Hillsboro and even as far as Charlottesville, Virginia to show their support or disapproval of the statue.
Efrain Ramirez, a Pittsboro resident who lives near the Courthouse and was against the statue remaining, turned his back at protesters and told The News and Observer, “They’re not worthy of my front…it’s disgusting.”
People had gathered around the Confederate Monument Sept. 28 in Pittsboro. During the protest, three people were arrested for concealing weapons and one of them was charged with disorderly conduct.
The Chatham County Commissioners declared the statue a “public trespass” Oct. 1, making it eligible for removal. Soon after the Commissioners’ decision, protesters showed up outside the courthouse with guns in their holsters. Counter protesters asked police officers and sheriff’s deputies why protesters were allowed to have weapons. Rik Stevens of the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office responded that the event was on private land, meaning that guns were allowed. Once the officers arrived to separate the groups, the crowd soon began to diminish.
The UDC sued the town of Pittsboro in response to the Commissioners’ decision, arguing that the monument was protected by state law, which grants certain protections to items classified as “objects of remembrance.” The suit was denied by a judge last week.
County Commissioners gave County Manager Dan LaMontagne the authority to remove the statue Nov. 15, citing public safety reasons. Eleven people were arrested the next day for a fight that happened around the Confederate statue, three of whom were from Pittsboro. Some were arrested for simple assault, simple affray (fighting in a public place that disturbs the peace) or inciting a riot. Calvin James Megginson, a Pittsboro resident, was arrested twice; once for simple assault and once for assault against a woman and resisting a public officer. The reason the fight began was because one of the protesters, against the removal of the statue, complained about one of the counter-protesters standing next to his car.
As of Tuesday evening, the Confederate statue has been removed from the front of the courthouse. The court said the statue will be moved and stored for safekeeping until Winnie Davis Chapter of the UDC finds a more appropriate location to place the monument. Many gathered around the statue Tuesday night to see it be removed.
By Ian Rivera-Lopez in collaboration with Caroline Kallam & Chase Miller, co-Print Editors
Photo credit to Chase Miller
