City Considering What To Do With 4 Confederate Monuments

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A monumental decision. The city is considering what to do with four Confederate monuments that currently sit on public land.

Some say they are offensive and need to be removed. Others claim they are history and must stay.

Meghan McCorkell has more on the controversy.

Tuesday night, a mayor's commission got an earful from both sides of the debate.

They sit on public land across the city, but the fate of four Confederate monuments is still up in the air.

Tuesday night, dozens of residents sound off to a special commission about what they think should happen to the controversial statues that some call offensive.

"I think they should be moved to a museum for the purpose of education. I don't think they should be destroyed," said Jazzmen Knoderer.

Others--like Rosalind Heid, descendant of a Civil War soldier--say they should remain.

"I think those statues must stay where they are, they must represent the history of Maryland, they must represent the history of Baltimore and they must represent the history of America," said Heid.

The monuments being reviewed are the Roger B. Taney Statue, the Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Monument, the Confederate Women's Memorial and the Lee Jackson Statue.

The commission will make a recommendation to the mayor that will range anywhere from preservation to removal.

The move comes as the University of Maryland votes to rename Byrd Stadium and Baltimore City opts to change the name of Robert E. Lee Park.

The city commission is trying to get feedback on what residents want to see with the monuments.

"Just getting a sense of where the city stands, where residents stand on these issues," said Aaron Bryant, commissioner chair.

So they can make an informed decision about the future of these landmarks.

The commission will hold a meeting to final its recommendations on January 14.

The special commission is made up of historical preservation and public arts experts.