Activist Wants Confederate Statue Returned To Downtown Reidsville
Aug 12, 2011
Reidsville, NC — An activist is continuing his fight for the replacement of a confederate soldier statue in downtown Reidsville.
Friday morning, Southern Heritage Activist Jamie Funkhouser stood dressed as a confederate soldier in front of the pedestal that once held the controversial statue. He was joined by another re-enactor, Josh Austin, in his protest.
The statue was knocked down and damaged by a driver that ran into it in May. In June, Reidsville residents on both sides of the issue let their opinions be heard by city council members regarding replacement of the statue.
Earlier this week, the city of Reidsville sent out a news release stating the statue would not return to the roundabout at the intersection of Scales Street and West Morehead Street.
The city determined the statue was owned by the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC). State UDC President Aileen Ezell told the city her organization would not ask that the statue be put back in its original location.
Funkhouser, who is from Winston-Salem, has been vocal in his efforts to get the statue returned to the roundabout.
He told WFMY News 2’s Mac Ingraham that it is still the City of Reidsville’s fault the statue will not be put back on the pedestal. He said they could work with the UDC to put it back in downtown.
Funkhouser said he was asked by police Friday morning to move off of the roundabout and onto a sidewalk. He stood firm in his position stating that it was public property. As of noon Friday, he remained in front of the empty pedestal.
The City of Reidsville stated in their news release that they are working with the UDC to find a new location for the statue. Possible locations include the confederate area of Greenville Cemetery or a museum.
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