Leaders of the country's oldest city have decided to move a Confederate memorial that has been a fixture in its central plaza for 140 years.
The St. Augustine City Commission voted 3 to 2 Monday night to relocate the obelisk that bears the names of Confederate soldiers from St. Augustine who died during the Civil War.
Related: Video of the June 22, 2020 St. Augustine City Commission Meeting
The city had taken up the issue of moving the memorial two years ago, but installed plaques to provide historical context instead.
The issue arose during recent protests. After nine hours of testimony, Tracy Upchurch, Leanna Freeman, and Nancy Sikes-Kline voted to move the monument. Commissioners haven’t said where it will go.
On Facebook, the city posted a picture of city workers covering up the monument with plywood.
Michelle Corum can be reached at mcorum@wjct.org, 904-358-6308 or on Twitter at @MCorumonME.
