The mayor of Lexington says after the events in Charlottesville, Virginia, he is taking the steps to remove two Confederate-era statues from the lawn of a former courthouse.
On Twitter Saturday, following deadly clashes in Charlottesville, Virginia, Mayor Jim Gray said he will ask the Lexington-Fayette County Urban County Council at its Tuesday work session to ask a state military commission for permission to take down the statues of John Hunt Morgan and John C. Breckinridge.
We cannot let them define our future.
— Jim Gray (@JimGrayLexKY) August 12, 2017
I am taking action to relocate the Confederate statues. We have thoroughly examined this issue, and heard from many of our citizens.
— Jim Gray (@JimGrayLexKY) August 12, 2017
The tragic events in Charlottesville today have accelerated the announcement I intended to make next week.
— Jim Gray (@JimGrayLexKY) August 12, 2017
Tuesday I will ask Council to support Lexington’s petition to the Ky Military Heritage Commission, a required next step. Details to come.
— Jim Gray (@JimGrayLexKY) August 12, 2017
Lexington's Confederate statues of Breckinridge & Hunt Morgan located at our Historic Courthouse, which will soon be our new visitors center
— Jim Gray (@JimGrayLexKY) August 12, 2017
Violent clashes occurred Saturday between white nationalists and counter-protesters in Charlottesville. Three people were killed, including a woman who died after a driver plowed into a group of peaceful marchers. Dozens more were injured.
The nationalists had gathered to protest the city's plans to remove a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.