(Headline USA) The Jacksonville City Council in Florida voted down a resolution this week that would have forced the city to remove all of its Confederate statues.
The resolution would have allocated at least $500,000 of the city’s budget to remove controversial statues, such as the Daughters of the Confederacy monument, and a pillar commemorating Confederate statues.
More than 80 residents signed up to make public comments during the council meeting, according to a report, with proponents of the measure arguing that the monuments are representative of racism, and the opponents arguing they are a part of the city’s history.
“I stand for the preservation of Jacksonville’s history in all its totality without the slightest omission,” one speaker said. “Please let us find another way to promote and foster unity and healing without taking away the statues.”
Another town resident said, “How is destroying statues improving the lives of any Americans?”
“Use my tax money to fight evil by making our schools as safe as any government building. You are elected into office to represent us, not defer bills.”
Those who wanted the statues removed, however, vowed to keep “fighting” to tear them down.
“We’re not going to stop fighting. We’re not going to stop coming out here,” Monique Sampson of the Jacksonville Community Action Committee said.
“We’re not going to stop putting the pressure on [City Council] to do what’s right and be on the right side of history.”
Another woman said, “The city council should not support any monuments that support racism or treason or sedition and that is what those monuments are for,” she argued. “There is no reason to have them on city property.”
Ultimately, the council voted 13-6 against the measure.
