The Legal, Ethical, and Practical Dimensions of Removing Confederate Monuments

By Stephanie Nicole Argueta

Introduction

Since the protests surrounding the death of George Floyd and Briana Taylor, many people within our nation have chosen to look inward to evaluate the historical mistreatment of people of color in this country. One such aspect of our country that many have chosen to reevaluate is the display of many Confederate statues across the country. Since 2020, the removal of Confederate monuments from public and private land has become a contentious and highly debated issue in the United States. These monuments, which commemorate figures from the Confederacy, have sparked a nationwide conversation about their historical significance, the discourse surrounding their removal, and the various solutions that can be pursued to address their historically oppressive past. But what does it truly take to remove one of these monuments? Can public backlash be enough to have these monuments removed or must something else be done? Do we lose anything from removing these monuments?

Legality of Removing Confederate Monuments