As the 124th South Carolina General Assembly prepares to meet on Tuesday, a group of concerned residents sent letters to the Legislature requesting the removal of the contentious Meriwether Monument. The city hall of Augusta do Norte also sought guidance from the General Assembly on the monument.
The monument honors only the white man killed in the Hamburg Massacre, using language often called racist and offensive. Seven black men were also killed during the massacre, but their names are not included in the monument or anywhere in Calhoun Park where the monument is located.
Ken Makin, a resident of Aiken County and host of the Makin ‘a Difference podcast, posted on Facebook that he and others had sent 170 letters to the South Carolina General Assembly about the monument.
The letter was sent by Makin and also by three natives from the north of August: Richard Bush, Chris Hawkins and Jackson Webb.
A centenary monument with racially dividing inscription in the center of North Augusta will be the end point of a Black Lives Matter march planned for 20 June.
“I am asking for your help to resolve a white supremacy issue in North Augusta, South Carolina … I am reaching out to each member of the General Assembly with the expectation that all of you will not only report, but demand the immediate removal of this abominable obelisk and a-historic “, says the letter.
It mentions the text of the monument, which refers to the “supremacy” of the “highest ideal of Anglo-Saxon civilization”.
The letter also cites an opinion on the monument in the South Carolina Attorney General’s office, who called the monument an “abominable testament to Jim Crow” and advised the city to go to the General Assembly “to alleviate the offensive nature of this monument. “
“This Office supports and applauds the revocation by the General Assembly of the statutes that erect the Meriwether Monument”, states the attorney general’s opinion.
A handful of markers, memorials, monuments and more glorifying or celebrating the Confeder …
“In a perfect world, I would like to see the legislature vote to topple the monument,” said Makin. “With that said, I understand that a vote in the legislature would be to remove the monument’s protections through the Heritage Act.”
He mentioned the opinion of the attorney general.
“The elected officials in Charleston and Orangeburg have already taken the initiative to remove some of these vile statues. The opinion of the state attorney general’s office is clear in its intention and where the authority lies to act on the monument.”
Makin said the question is about determination.
“We have been dealing with this problem for more than three years. The AG’s opinion offered a unique opportunity for the legislature to act quickly on this issue. There is bipartisan support for its removal and, during this time of political anguish, this legislature can clearly stand against the messages of white supremacy, ”said Makin.
The letter also states that the mayor and city council of Augusta do Norte “lack leadership and the courage to rebuke, let alone remove this odious statue.”
“For most of the three years, the mayor and the city council hid behind the state’s Heritage Act in a way that makes it seem like they want to protect this message of supremacy,” says the letter.
The city asked the General Assembly for information about the monument’s ownership.
City Attorney Kelly Zier told the City Council on Monday that the correspondence went to the House spokesman and Senate President “at least 45 days ago”.
“In fact, we didn’t anticipate that there would be any kind of response until after the legislature returned to the session this year,” said Zier.
For the Meriwether Monument to be removed, it will have to be taken by the Genera …
“We hope to receive a response, but at this point, we have received nothing in relation to the letters we have sent asking just that question, regardless of whether the legislature has claimed her ownership or not.”
Jay Lucas of Darlington is the mayor and Harvey Peeler of Gaffney is the president of the Senate.
State Representative Bill Hixon, who represents the North Augusta area, said he had a meeting on Tuesday with Lucas and said he would mention the letter to him. Hixon also mentioned that the attorney general’s office last year asked the state Supreme Court to determine whether the Heritage Act, which protects certain monuments and buildings, violates the South Carolina Constitution.
Follow Lindsey on Twitter at @LindseyNHodges.