In the darkness of night, another US city removes history from view as Orlando removes “Johnny Reb” statue – PB/TK
After public outcry, Florida city moves Confederate statue – AP / June 20 2017
City workers on Tuesday started moving a Confederate statue called “Johnny Reb” from a park in the heart of downtown Orlando, Florida, to a nearby cemetery, following renewed public outcry that it is a symbol of racism and white supremacy.
The city workers started taking apart the statue, which has been in Orlando since 1911. Unlike other cities where Confederate statues have been removed, there were no protesters at the site Tuesday morning. Police squad cars had closed off access to streets leading to the statue.
Once the monument is disassembled, a new base will be built for it. It will be reassembled and re-erected in a Confederate veterans section of a municipal cemetery not far from where it had stood in Lake Eola Park, city spokeswoman Cassandra Lafser said in a statement.
The whole process will likely take six weeks. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer has estimated the cost at $120,000.
Continue to abcnews.go.com article: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/amid-public-outcry-florida-city-moves-confederate-statute-48153106
