Confederate monument removed overnight

New Orleans began the process of taking down Confederate statutes early Monday with the removal of the monument to the Battle of Liberty Place. The city became the latest Southern jurisdiction to divorce itself from what some say are symbols of racism and intolerance but which opponents say are historic.

The Liberty Monument, which commemorates whites who tried to topple a biracial post- Civil War government in New Orleans, was taken away in pieces around 5: 35 a. m. after a few hours of work.

“The removal of these statues sends a clear and unequivocal message to the people of New Orleans and the nation: New Orleans celebrates our diversity, inclusion and tolerance,” said Mayor Mitch Landrieu.

“Relocating these Confederate monuments is not about taking something away from someone else. This is not about politics, blame or retaliation. This is not a naïve quest to solve all our problems at once. This is about showing the whole world that we as a city and as a people are able to acknowledge, understand, recon- cile — and most importantly — choose a better future. We can remember these divisive chapters in our history in a museum or other facility where they can be put in context — and that’s where these statues belong.”

Landrieu said the memorials were coming down during the early hours of the morning because of death threats and intimidation from some of those who want the monuments to stay and to minimize city disruption.

The crews used to remove the monuments wore masks and full body suits to protect their identity.

There was a small, but vocal, and mostly pro- monument group at the site.

Paul McIntyre, who said his great- grandfather’s name was on the memorial, disputed the legacy afforded those whose names were on the obelisk.

“None of them owned slaves, none of them were fighting for slavery,” he said. “In the documents you can access, it tells you it’s over state’s rights.”

Another vigil by pro- monument groups was held at the Jefferson Davis statue. Many of those in attendance said the statues represented history.

In a statement from the city, details regarding the removal of the statues of Confederate Generals Robert E. Lee and P. G. T. Beauregard and Confederate President Jefferson Davis, will not be released to the public.

GERALD HERBERT, AP Workers dismantle the Liberty Place monument Monday in New Orleans. It was removed overnight in an attempt to avoid disruption from supporters who want the monuments to stay.