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Save This Page| DISCOVER RICHMOND | |
| See Abe Lincoln's statue and take photo tours of Richmond National Battlefield Parks Tredegar Iron Works Civil War Visitor Center. |
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Goldman Grey Jones Pantele Williams Should a statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis join the one of Abraham Lincoln at Tredegar Iron Works in Richmond?
The Richmond Times-Dispatch asked the five candidates for mayor that question in light of the city's support of the Lincoln statue in 2003.
The Sons of Confederate Veterans is offering the lifesize bronze statue of the Confederate leader to the American Civil War Center, which controls the Tredegar site through an agreement with its landowner, NewMarket Corp. Museum officials met with the Southern heritage group two weeks ago and expect to make a decision in August.
Here's what the candidates for mayor had to say:
Paul Goldman: Declined to comment. He said Richmond should honor the contributions of Southern women with a monument on Monument Avenue by 2020 -- the 200th anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which gave women the right to vote.
Robert J. Grey Jr.: "I don't see any reason for me to say anything about that. The museum folks have that well in hand."
Dwight Clinton Jones: "We have statues on Monument Avenue honoring a period in Richmond's and our nation's history erected in the wake of the Civil War. I think we need to look at Richmond's recent history and commemorate the role Richmonders have played in World War I, World War II, the women's rights and civil-rights movements. These signify important changes in Richmond's more recent history and the progress we've made. I would hope that these are the legacies that our generation chooses to commemorate."
William J. Pantele: "I really have not formed an opinion. I'm willing to hear from all sides to the extent there are sides."
Lawrence E. Williams Sr.: "It's a tough one. There should be a balance of history at the Tredegar site. That includes who these people were. If a school kid needs to know what Jefferson Davis looked like, that's a fair issue." He suggested that the city's museums also include exhibits on Richmond's plans and aspirations. "We have got to show the citizens and visitors that this city is evolving."
Contact Will Jones at (804) 649-6911 or wjones@timesdispatch.com.
