Mayor Announces Review Of Baltimore's Confederate Statues
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The mayor announces a review of Baltimore's Confederate statues.
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake says a special commission will make recommendations for each of the different Confederate-era monuments and their future in Baltimore.
Recommendations include, but are not limited to, preservation, new signage, relocation or removal.
"I believe it is important for us to take a thoughtful, reasoned approach to these Confederate-era monuments, rather than rush to simply 'tear them down' or 'keep them up' in the heat of the moment," Mayor Rawlings-Blake said. "A special commission, under the guidance and direction of CHAP and the Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts, will take the time to thoroughly research the background and significance of each of these items and make a recommendation that recognizes and respects the history that we need future generations to understand."
The mayor says she expects the commission to seek input from independent experts in the city's history, as well as representatives of the community.
The commission will gather information on how other cities have handled similar questions regarding historic monuments.
The mayor asked that the commission aim to report its recommendations within six months.