City of Rome debates future of their Confederate monuments

FLOYD COUNTY, Ga. — The city of Rome met Friday to discuss the future of its Confederate monuments. There were a lot of people arguing both for and against keeping the monuments.

The monument in question is a statue of Nathan Bedford Forrest.

Many of the people who live in Rome consider him a hero and the man who saved Rome. Others only consider him as the wizard of the KKK and a slave owner and trader.

The statue used to sit on Broad Street but was moved to Myrtle Hill Cemetery.

Right now, the city can’t do anything. It’s up to the state to take action.

Channel 2’s Lauren Davis talked to Bobby Jones, who grew up in Rome and supports removing the statue.

“To me the statue stands for white supremacy. There’s not another way to say it. The statue was erected to honor a man who formed one of the most violent racial terrorist organizations in the United States history,” Jones said.

Jones was among dozens of people who took to the microphone Friday to tell city council officials that they don’t like the statue.

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Other residents, like Joey Ineichen, showed up to support the statue but also to educate himself on what it means to his African American neighbors.

“(It was) very interesting. I learned a whole lot,” Ineichen said. “(But) I hope they don’t destroy it. I hope if it’s voted to be moved, it will still remain a part of our history.”

People on both sides said they think this is an important conversation to have.

“Us white folks don’t have a way to understand what this means to our black and brown neighbors,” Jones said.

Today’s meeting was only a discussion. The city can’t make a decision until the state rules on local statues.

There is a bill in the House and Senate, so the city urges residents to call your lawmakers and make your feelings known.

Kennesaw leaders want to take down controversial Confederate flag The flag was removed during protests and now, council members want to make that change permanent.

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