A statue of the man who led the failed Confederate States of America during the Civil War will remain in the Kentucky Capitol Building, the state’s Historic Properties Advisory Commission decided this week.
The statue of Jefferson Davis, a Kentucky native, sits along the wall in the Capitol’s rotunda where President Abraham Lincoln is the centerpiece. Its presence came under fire following the deadly shooting of 9 people in an historic African-American church in Charleston, South Carolina by a suspect believed to have been motivated by his enthusiasm for Confederate imagery like the battle flag which was later removed from that state’s Capitol grounds.
Governor Steve Beshear issued a statement on the matter after asking the commission to review the statue’s presence following cries of support and opposition for the Jefferson Davis tribute.
“The Commission received thousands of public comments and consulted with state historians. After reviewing all the information, the consensus it reached is that the Jefferson Davis statue represented a part of the state’s history and will remain in the Capitol. However, the panel voted to establish a committee that would determine ways to ensure the statues, including Jefferson Davis, are displayed in the appropriate historical context.
“While many Kentuckians feel that it would be preferable for the Jefferson Davis statue to be in a museum setting, the addition of this educational and historical context is critical. The generations to come must understand the enormous toll of the Civil War that tore apart this nation and the tragic issue of slavery at the root of that war.
“Kentucky played a unique historical role as the birthplace of the presidents of both sides of the conflict. We must ensure that dark chapter of our nation’s past serves to educate in ways that ensure such a tragedy can never happen again.”
The most recent Bluegrass Poll showed that 73% of Kentucky’s registered voters support keeping the statue in the rotunda.
-Staff report
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