The group, known as 'Paducah Residents', currently has more than 1200 signatures on their Change.org petition for "The removal and replacement of Confederate Monuments in Paducah". The petition says the monuments are "a representation slavery and racial oppression that serve only to remind the citizens of Paducah of a time when such things were not only prevalent in society, but sanctioned by the State."
Petitioners are calling for the removal of the statue of General Lloyd Tilghman from Fountain Square, and for the renaming of Paducah Tilghman High School. PTHS is named after General Tilghman's wife, Augusta. The petition is also calling for the "the immediate removal of any dedication to the Confederate cause on publicly funded land".
The petition continues, "It is our assertion that these statues serve as a glorification to a bygone era that promoted and legitimized the oppression and slavery of Black Americans. They help to gloss over the historic violence that these individuals and systems produced, promote an acceptance and retelling of history that allows slave owners and bigots to be seen as heroes, and continues to embolden and empower racist and white nationalist even today. Our children should not have to enter a school named in honor of a confederate general, and tax payer money shouldn't be used to maintain any of these statues or dedications."
The petition will be delivered to Mayor Brandi Harless and Paducah City Commissioners. Click the link below to view the full petition.
On the Net:
Online Petition
