Group Offers Ideas on What to Do with Confederate Statue

Discussions continue on what to do with the controversial Confederate soldier statue in Rockville, which was vandalized on Monday.

County executive Ike Leggett announced last week that the 1913 statue would be taken down, though no timetable was set.

Vandals painted the phrase ”Black Lives Matter” and other graffiti on the statue’s base.

Confederate memorials have been the target of scorn after a man gunned down nine African-Americans in a Charleston, S.C. church last month. Dylan Roof posed with a Confederate battle flag in online photos and spoke of his desire for a new race war.

A working group of six county residents on Thursday sent recommendations to the Montgomery County Council on the future of the monument that sits near the Red Brick Courthouse.

Montgomery Community Media reports the recommendations are:

• Destroy the statue;
• Keep the statue at its current location with additional information showing both Confederate and Union supporters;
• Or relocate the statue.

Council President George Leventhal says next steps in the process could be:

• Determine how public can share their input in this matter;
• County employees to work with historical preservation staff to identify possible sites for the monument;
• Develop more in-depth information to be placed near the statue at determined new location;
• Request County Executive Isiah Leggett to take action to protect the monument from future vandalism;
• Apply to the Rockville Historic District Commission to obtain a certificate of approval to relocate the statue.