Thursday on First Coast Connect we spoke with Northside Coalition of Jacksonville members Ben Frazier and Wells Todd about their upcoming rally calling for the removal of Confederate monuments from public places on the First Coast (01:14).
We were also joined by Sharika Cunningham, assistant director of Stompdown, which is coming to the Florida Theatre Saturday (46:00).
Take ‘Em Down Jax Rally
Last summer, after violence at a white Supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, left a woman dead, Jacksonville and other cities around the country began considering taking down monuments and statues commemorating the Confederacy.
It’s been a hot topic on the First Coast ever since. Jacksonville City Council President Anna Lopez Brosche has ordered an inventory of Confederate monuments in public places, but what is to be done with them after the inventory is still an open question.
The Northside Coalition of Jacksonville will be holding a Take ‘Em Down Jax rally Sunday in Hemming Plaza beginning at 2 p.m.
Stompdown
A nationally touring step dancing show is bringing together youth and college teams from across the country to display their skills. Stompdown is a billed as a community event for all audiences which also gives out youth scholarships. The show also includes an educational element to encourage teens to stay in school and seek higher learning.
Kevin Meerschaert can be reached at kmeerschaert@wjct.org, 904-358-6334 or on Twitter at @KMeerschaertJax.
