The growing tension between whites and African-Americans following the shooting of African-Americans in a church located in Charleston, North Carolina, as well as the death of George Floyd, triggered a flashpoint that led to the toppling of statues from the United States to London. Alabama saw a similar reaction from the protestors. 

Robert Harris, a veteran who served on the Lowndes County Commission in Hayneville, Alabama, for 22 years, emphasized the importance of the Confederate monument that once stood in front of the courthouse as it was a reminder of a time of oppression. To him, the memory of how they were treated was and will always be there. “A switched on a light bulb,” as he quoted. It takes a single spark and triggers the switch.

Gov. Kay Ivey’s campaign also defended the historical monuments in Alabama. She signed the Alabama Memorial Preservation Ace of 2017, which prohibits the relocation, removal, alteration, renaming, and other forms of disturbance of monuments located on public property. Seven Confederate states passed laws limiting and preventing the removal of monuments that have been put up over the last 20 years  

Some believe the monuments serve as a reminder of the painful history of slavery, oppression, and white dominance. Others see the monuments as signifying all the growth and progress we have made as a nation since then.

The question for debate is, will removing confederate statues help or harm race relations?