A bill protecting Confederate monuments failed in the House, by a narrow margin, on Tuesday. Senate Bill 175 would have allowed anyone to sue over the removal or damage of monuments. It would also require a 90-day notice from local governments before they could remove or relocate monuments. During that window any individual or group could petition to take possession of a monument for public display.
Representative Tanya Miller opposed the legislation.
“…But what we will not do is skate past the history of my ancestors, my history in this country, of people stolen from across the ocean, many of whom chose the sea rather than to become property of the folks that you seek to defend and memorialize.”
Representative Alan Powell, who presented the bill in the House, said the bill was neutral and all statues were included.
“So, when we talk about monuments, let’s talk about the Jewish monuments, down at Oakland Cemetery. Let’s talk about the monuments on this square. Let’s talk about Martin Luther King statuary. We’re talking about all statuary, ladies and gentlemen.”
The bill would also require monuments be moved to a place of equal prominence.
“You go over to Athens-Clarke County, the statuary that stood in the middle of Broad Street, at the gates across from the gates of the University of Georgia, was moved out on the bypass. Hidden behind a grove of trees.”
The bill received 89 of the 91 votes needed to pass.
