Confederate Monuments

There are more than 180,000 historical markers in the U.S., including some in Florida remembering the victims of racial violence.

When Florida lawmakers went home after ending the 2024 legislative session Friday, they left behind hundreds of bills that did not pass.

Legislative leadership could be getting cold feet about a bill that would protect Confederate monuments after open White supremacists spoke in support of the bill.

The Senate sponsor of the monuments bill, Jonathan Martin, R-Fort Myers, argued that his bill and intentions have been mischaracterized as protecting the Confederacy.

A House committee Tuesday approved a controversial bill aimed at preventing the removal of historical monuments and memorials, including Confederate monuments.

Local officials could be booted from office if they take action to remove historical monuments in their communities, including those with Confederate ties.

It centers on the general counsel's recommendation that Mayor Donna Deegan remove the statues without the Jacksonville City Council's approval.

The monument’s opponents said it implicitly condoned an era of slavery and white supremacy.

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan called the bill "another slap in the face to our Black community, which has already endured so much. It’s an overreach and unconstitutional.”

Anyone who damages or removes an historical monument or memorial could face a civil lawsuit under proposed legislation.

Under a proposal continuing to move forward in the Florida Senate, the act of damaging or removing monuments or memorials would be open to civil lawsuits.

The proposal would give standing to people to file lawsuits if they believe they have “lost history” or the ability to teach about the past because of the removal or relocation of monuments or a failure to protect the structures.