Columbia, North Carolina — A federal lawsuit is underway that seeks to address a controversial Confederate monument located outside the Tyrrell County Courthouse. The lawsuit aims to remove or obscure a part of the monument’s inscription that reads, “IN APPRECIATION OF OUR FAITHFUL SLAVES.”
Local resident Sherryreed Robinson, one of the individuals behind the lawsuit, expressed her deep discomfort with the wording. She reflected on how it implies a notion of submission that raises questions about justice for Black Americans at a courthouse marked by such language. “As an adult, the words sitting on the grounds of a courthouse made me question whether Blacks could really receive justice there,” Robinson stated.
Earlier this year, a federal judge permitted part of the lawsuit to proceed, though Tyrrell County officials have resisted altering the monument, citing state laws designed to protect historical memorials. These laws, they argue, prevent modifications to what is categorized as an “object of remembrance” on publicly owned property.
The Concerned Citizens of Tyrrell County, an advocacy group composed mainly of older Black residents, initiated the lawsuit prior to the recent political shifts under the Trump administration, which has been associated with reinstating Confederate names and symbols. Following the protests for racial justice in 2020, many such monuments faced removal, but federal actions have since sought to restore them.
Legal representatives for the county have argued that state laws bind officials from making the requested changes to the monument. Their motion noted that the North Carolina Court of Appeals has determined that county officials are obligated to uphold this statute without a discriminatory intent. This argument suggests that the lawsuit is an attempt to hold officials liable for adhering to state mandates.
Erected in 1902 by the Tyrell Monument Association, the statue commemorates a Confederate soldier and features a bust of General Robert E. Lee. The monument, like many others established during the Jim Crow era, reflects the racial tensions of its time.
Mark Snell Brickhouse, a descendant of one of the Confederates honored on the monument, visits regularly to pay homage to his family history. While he appreciates the statue’s significance, he believes the phrase regarding “faithful slaves” is inappropriate and should be obscured. “I love the statue because it honors my family members,” he remarked, adding that the words can indeed be offensive.
Attempts to completely remove the monument were made in the 1990s by similar local advocacy groups, but the current lawsuit focuses specifically on the contested inscription. Ian Mance, an attorney with Emancipate North Carolina, highlighted that this particular monument is unique in its endorsement of slavery. “This is the only monument of its kind at a courthouse with that language of appreciation for slavery on it,” he pointed out, underscoring the hurtful legacy it carries for local families.
While the lawsuit does not demand financial damages, its implications resonate deeply within a community still grappling with the historical weight of its monuments. As this case unfolds, both local sentiment and legal precedents are poised to challenge the narrative represented by such memorials.
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