Emil Rahm was on CNN this morning talking about the removal of the George Washington statue as well as that of President Andrew Jackson at the request by Bishop Dukes. BLM has also joined in and vowed daily protests until the statues are removed and the parks renamed.
We as Chicagoans must now take the microscope and place it on the statues, monuments and parks that we give honor to," Bishop Dukes wrote in a letter to Emanuel. "We cannot allow slavery and racism to be awarded in our communities by honoring individuals that indeed partook in the very institution that has kidnapped, murdered, raped, and terrorized our forefather and mothers."
"Therefore, I call on the immediate removal of President George Washington and President Andrew Jackson names from the parks located on the southeast side of Chicago," Dukes added. "They should not have the distinct honor of being held as heroes when they actively participated in the slave trade. I fully expect that the Chicago Park District and Mayor Rahm Emanuel share in my sentiments and views; that Chicago will not be a place that embraces racism, slavery and its treacherous tentacles. But rather, Chicago will be a beacon of hope for a better tomorrow for all its’ residents."
According to CBS Chicago, Dukes stated:
“When I see that, I see a person who fought for the liberties, and I see people that fought for the justice and freedom of white America, because at that moment, we were still chattel slavery, and was three-fifths of humans,” he said. “Some people out here ask me, say ‘Well, you know, he taught his slaves to read.’ That’s almost sad; the equivalent of someone who kidnaps you, that you gave them something to eat.”
Thomas Jefferson who was singled out as offensive by Al Sharpton and NYC Mayor Blasio. NY Democratics , ACLU, members of the Council on American Islamic Relations and other National groups have joined the anti slavery memorial removals. The Mayor of NYC quoted Leslie Odom of the show Hamilton as being right on the majority of the publics view of the memorials and statues to slave owner and confederates, no matter who they are.
Actor Leslie Odom Jr. says public statues should be erected to " “inspire us,” to “teach us,” and to “give us hope,” but if they no longer do so, communities can decide that they don’t want them anymore — even when it comes to statues of America’s Founding Fathers. If we decide as a community that this bronze commemoration is no longer doing that, if it’s no longer inspiring us, if it’s no longer making us feel great about ourselves, they come down for a while, or forever,” he said.
"You can reexamine things in the future, but if a statue has to come down for a minute, we’re allowed to do that,” Odom added.
“We’re even allowed to do that Thomas Jefferson and George Washington,” he added. “We’re allowed to. They’re not off the table for discussion."