Confederate Monument Theft: Antiracist Group Threatens to Turn It into a Toilet
Ransom Demand and Monument’s History
A self-described “antiracist action group” known as White Lies Matter has stolen a Confederate monument, the Jefferson Davis Memorial Chair, from a private section of Old Live Oak Cemetery in Selma, Alabama. The group is threatening to convert the chair into a toilet unless its ransom demands are met.
The chair, valued at $500,000, was erected in 1893 as a monument to Confederate President Jefferson Davis. It stood in Confederate Circle, a section of the cemetery containing numerous monuments to Confederate leaders.
White Lies Matter’s Demands and the UDC’s Response
White Lies Matter has demanded that the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC), a group that seeks to protect Confederate monuments, display a banner featuring a quote from black activist Assata Shakur at its Richmond headquarters. The quote reads, “The rulers of this country have always considered their property more important than our lives.”
The UDC has declared White Lies Matter’s demands to be “fake news” and has refused to display the banner.
Confederate Monuments and the Lost Cause
Confederate memorials are often associated with the Lost Cause, a racist ideology that suggests the Civil War was not primarily about slavery. In reality, the war was fought to preserve white supremacy and the enslavement of millions of people.
White Lies Matter’s Justification for the Theft
White Lies Matter claims that it stole the statue to redress past wrongdoings and to highlight the ongoing devaluation of Black lives compared to property.
Monument Removal and the Current Debate
The theft of the Jefferson Davis Memorial Chair is part of a broader debate about the removal of Confederate monuments across the United States. In 2020, more than 160 Confederate symbols were removed, while at least 2,100 symbols, including 704 monuments, remain standing.
Legal and Ethical Implications
The theft of the monument is considered grand theft, and White Lies Matter could face criminal charges. The group’s actions have also raised ethical questions about the appropriate ways to address historical injustices and promote racial reconciliation.
Local Reactions
Many locals, including District Attorney Michael Jackson, were unaware of the monument’s theft until White Lies Matter sent a ransom email to local news outlets. Jackson described the situation as “really strange” and likened it to an episode of “The Twilight Zone.”
Conflicting Perspectives
Patricia Godwin, a member of the UDC, has called for the return of the chair, while White Lies Matter maintains that the statue was stolen to right past wrongs. The incident has highlighted the deep divisions and conflicting perspectives surrounding Confederate monuments and the legacy of slavery in the United States.