Third Jacksonville committee votes against proposal to remove Confederate monument

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Three Jacksonville City Council committees have voted against a proposal to remove the Women of the Southern Confederacy monument from Springfield Park.

On Tuesday morning, the City of Jacksonville Finance Committee voted 4-3 against the $1.3 million plan to remove the statue.

On Monday, the Neighborhoods Committee of Jacksonville City Council voted 4-1 against the $1.3 million plan, as did the Transportation Committee in a 4-2 vote.

Councilmembers Ron Salem, Danny Becton, Michael Boylan and Terrance Freeman voted against the plan. Councilmembers Matt Carlucci, Reggie Gaffney, Ju’Coby Pittman voted in favor of it.

When the vote was announced, Ben Frazier with the Northside Coalition spoke out in disagreement, shouting “Move this city forward!”

This eventually led councilmembers to take an unscheduled recess, while everyone was told to leave the chambers.

Frazier told Action News Jax while waiting outside, “That was civil disobedience, we are a nonviolent organization.”

He was later allowed to return for public comments at the end of the meeting.

Councilmember Matt Carlucci, who voted in favor, said after the meeting concluded, “I have given my best.”

He added, “I hope that somehow we can wind up seeing a different result Tuesday night.”

Meanwhile, Councilmember Michael Boylan responded to our request for comment with the following statement, which explains why he voted against the plan:

“While I certainly understand the passion surrounding this issue, I support the position taken by the Working Group the administration organized regarding such matters. ‘…the future of Jacksonville’s monuments to the Confederacy (in JWJ Park, Springfield Park and the Old City Cemetery) should be determined as part of a comprehensive plan, building on the work of the Civil Rights History Task Force and other groups and partners who are already engaged in preserving, restoring and interpreting the history of Jacksonville’s people and public places.’

“Rushing to judgement regarding the removal of this monument runs contrary to what they have recommended. Hence, I could not support it.”

If the full city council takes up the bill to remove the monument, it would require a supermajority of the 19 council members. Given the three committee votes, it would appear to lack the necessary support.

In June 2020 Republican Mayor Lenny Curry ordered all Confederate monuments in the city removed during an organized protest led by former Jags player Leonard Fournette.

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