Latest news with #LostCause
San Francisco Chronicle
03-07-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Confederacy group sues Georgia park for planning an exhibit on slavery and segregation
STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. (AP) — The Georgia chapter of a Confederacy group filed a lawsuit this week against a state park with the largest Confederate monument in the country, arguing officials broke state law by planning an exhibit on ties to slavery, segregation and white supremacy. Stone Mountain's massive carving depicts Confederate President Jefferson Davis, Gen. Robert E. Lee and Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson on horseback. Critics who have long pushed for changes say the monument enshrines the 'Lost Cause' mythology that romanticizes the Confederate cause as a state's rights struggle, but state law protects the carving from any changes. After police brutality spurred nationwide reckonings on racial inequality and the removal of dozens of Confederate monuments in 2020, the Stone Mountain Memorial Association, which oversees Stone Mountain Park, voted in 2021 to relocate Confederate flags and build a 'truth-telling' exhibit to reflect the site's role in the rebirth of the Klu Klux Klan, along with the carving's segregationist roots. The Georgia Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans also alleges in the lawsuit filed Tuesday that the board's decision to relocate Confederate flags from a walking trail violates Georgia law. 'When they come after the history and attempt to change everything to the present political structure, that's against the law,' said Martin O'Toole, the chapter's spokesperson. Stone Mountain Park markets itself as a family theme park and is a popular hiking spot east of Atlanta. Completed in 1972, the monument on the mountain's northern space is 190 feet (58 meters) across and 90 feet (27 meters) tall. The United Daughters of the Confederacy hired sculptor Gutzon Borglum, who later carved Mount Rushmore, to craft the carving in 1915. That same year, the film 'Birth of a Nation' celebrated the Reconstruction-era Ku Klux Klan, which marked its comeback with a cross burning on top of Stone Mountain on Thanksgiving night in 1915. One of the 10 parts of the planned exhibit would expound on the Ku Klux's Klan reemergence and the movie's influence on the mountain's monument. The Stone Mountain Memorial Association hired Birmingham-based Warner Museums, which specializes in civil rights installations, to design the exhibit in 2022. "The interpretive themes developed for Stone Mountain will explore how the collective memory created by Southerners in response to the real and imagined threats to the very foundation of Southern society, the institution of slavery, by westward expansion, a destructive war, and eventual military defeat, was fertile ground for the development of the Lost Cause movement amidst the social and economic disruptions that followed," the exhibit proposal says. Other parts of the exhibit would address how the United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Sons of Confederate Veterans perpetuated the 'Lost Cause' ideology through support for monuments, education programs and racial segregation laws across the South. It would also tell stories of a small Black community that lived near the mountain after the war. Georgia's General Assembly allocated $11 million in 2023 to pay for the exhibit and renovate the park's Memorial Hall. The exhibit is not open yet. A spokesperson for the park did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The park's board in 2021 also voted to change its logo from an image of the Confederate carveout to a lake inside the park. The exhibit would 'radically revise' the park's setup, 'completely changing the emphasis of the Park and its purpose as defined by the law of the State of Georgia,' the lawsuit says. ___
Toronto Star
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Confederacy group sues Georgia park for planning an exhibit on slavery and segregation
STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. (AP) — The Georgia chapter of a Confederacy group filed a lawsuit this week against a state park with the largest Confederate monument in the country, arguing officials broke state law by planning an exhibit on ties to slavery, segregation and white supremacy. Stone Mountain's massive carving depicts Confederate President Jefferson Davis, Gen. Robert E. Lee and Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson on horseback. Critics who have long pushed for changes say the monument enshrines the 'Lost Cause' mythology that romanticizes the Confederate cause as a state's rights struggle, but state law protects the carving from any changes.
Winnipeg Free Press
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Confederacy group sues Georgia park for planning an exhibit on slavery and segregation
STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. (AP) — The Georgia chapter of a Confederacy group filed a lawsuit this week against a state park with the largest Confederate monument in the country, arguing officials broke state law by planning an exhibit on ties to slavery, segregation and white supremacy. Stone Mountain's massive carving depicts Confederate President Jefferson Davis, Gen. Robert E. Lee and Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson on horseback. Critics who have long pushed for changes say the monument enshrines the 'Lost Cause' mythology that romanticizes the Confederate cause as a state's rights struggle, but state law protects the carving from any changes. After police brutality spurred nationwide reckonings on racial inequality and the removal of dozens of Confederate monuments in 2020, the Stone Mountain Memorial Association, which oversees Stone Mountain Park, voted in 2021 to relocate Confederate flags and build a 'truth-telling' exhibit to reflect the site's role in the rebirth of the Klu Klux Klan, along with the carving's segregationist roots. The Georgia Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans also alleges in the lawsuit filed Tuesday that the board's decision to relocate Confederate flags from a walking trail violates Georgia law. 'When they come after the history and attempt to change everything to the present political structure, that's against the law,' said Martin O'Toole, the chapter's spokesperson. Stone Mountain Park markets itself as a family theme park and is a popular hiking spot east of Atlanta. Completed in 1972, the monument on the mountain's northern space is 190 feet (58 meters) across and 90 feet (27 meters) tall. The United Daughters of the Confederacy hired sculptor Gutzon Borglum, who later carved Mount Rushmore, to craft the carving in 1915. That same year, the film 'Birth of a Nation' celebrated the Reconstruction-era Ku Klux Klan, which marked its comeback with a cross burning on top of Stone Mountain on Thanksgiving night in 1915. One of the 10 parts of the planned exhibit would expound on the Ku Klux's Klan reemergence and the movie's influence on the mountain's monument. The Stone Mountain Memorial Association hired Birmingham-based Warner Museums, which specializes in civil rights installations, to design the exhibit in 2022. 'The interpretive themes developed for Stone Mountain will explore how the collective memory created by Southerners in response to the real and imagined threats to the very foundation of Southern society, the institution of slavery, by westward expansion, a destructive war, and eventual military defeat, was fertile ground for the development of the Lost Cause movement amidst the social and economic disruptions that followed,' the exhibit proposal says. Other parts of the exhibit would address how the United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Sons of Confederate Veterans perpetuated the 'Lost Cause' ideology through support for monuments, education programs and racial segregation laws across the South. It would also tell stories of a small Black community that lived near the mountain after the war. Georgia's General Assembly allocated $11 million in 2023 to pay for the exhibit and renovate the park's Memorial Hall. The exhibit is not open yet. A spokesperson for the park did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The park's board in 2021 also voted to change its logo from an image of the Confederate carveout to a lake inside the park. Sons of the Confederate Veterans members have defended the carvings as honoring Confederate soldiers. The exhibit would 'radically revise' the park's setup, 'completely changing the emphasis of the Park and its purpose as defined by the law of the State of Georgia,' the lawsuit says. ___ Kramon is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Kramon on X: @charlottekramon.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
House Dem to McMahon: Why is Education Department ‘taking its lead from Jim Crow'?
Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) sharply questioned Education Secretary Linda McMahon during a Wednesday House hearing about the department's actions against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), alleging the federal agency is 'taking its lead from Jim Crow.' 'To be honest, and to be very clear, I want to say that this administration has undoubtedly revived the culture of racism we haven't seen since the Jim Crow era. They've made it clear that open attacks on Black and brown and other marginalized communities is not just tolerated, but it's encouraged,' Lee said. The calls to remove DEI measures, Lee said, 'in favor of 'traditional American values' is indistinguishable from post Civil War South advocating to write history with the Lost Cause narrative.' 'I have a question, some questions, excuse me, about why this department is taking its leads from Jim Crow,' she continued. Lee specifically criticized the Department of Education's letter in April telling schools they needed to sign a certification saying they were DEI-free or risk losing federal funding. McMahon dismissed the concern, saying no schools have lost funding, as Lee pointed out the directive was preliminarily blocked by multiple judges. 'During your confirmation hearing, you were asked by Sen. Chris Murphy [D-Conn.] if an African American history class violated the administration's position on diversity, equity and inclusion, you said you want to look into it. You've been on the job for a few … months now. Have you been able to look into it?' Lee asked. 'I do not think that African studies or Middle East studies or Chinese studies are part of DEI if they are taught as part of the total history package,' McMahon responded. After some back and forth, McMahon concluded, 'African history can certainly be taught' without concerns of DEI. 'Oh, thank you,' Lee said. She also peppered McMahon with questions whether schools can have Pride celebrations or accurately teach that former President Biden won the 2020 election, growing frustrated and cutting off McMahon when she would not answer yes or no. 'I think our studies should all be taught accurately,' McMahon said. The exchange highlighted the frustration among Democrats during the hearing as they hammered McMahon over cuts to contracts and employees at the federal agency. McMahon is sitting in front of the House committee to defend her department's priorities while funding considerations are still on the table. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
04-06-2025
- General
- The Hill
House Dem to McMahon: Why is Education Department ‘taking its lead from Jim Crow'?
Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) sharply questioned Education Secretary Linda McMahon during a Wednesday House hearing about the department's actions against diversity, equity and inclusion, alleging the federal agency is 'taking its lead from Jim Crow.' 'To be honest, and to be very clear, I want to say that this administration has undoubtedly revived the culture of racism we haven't seen since the Jim Crow era. They made it clear that open attacks on Black and brown and other marginalized communities is not just tolerated, but it's encouraged,' Lee said. The calls to remove DEI measures, Lee said, 'in favor of 'traditional American values' is indistinguishable from post Civil War South advocating to write history with the Lost Cause narrative.' 'I have a question, some questions, excuse me, about why this department is taking its leads from Jim Crow,' she continued. Lee specifically criticized the Department of Education's letter in April telling schools they needed to sign a certification saying they were DEI-free or risk losing federal funding. McMahon dismissed the concern, saying no schools have lost funding, as Lee pointed out the directive was preliminarily blocked by multiple judges. 'During your confirmation hearing, you were asked by Senator Chris Murphy if an African American history class violated the administration's position on diversity, equity and inclusion, you said you want to look into it. You've been on the job for a few minutes months now. Have you been able to look into it?' Lee asked. 'I do not think that African Studies or Middle East Studies or Chinese studies are part of DEI if they are taught as part of the total history package,' McMahon responded. After some back and forth, McMahon concluded 'African history can certainly be taught' without concerns of DEI. 'Oh, thank you,' Lee said. She also peppered McMahon with questions whether schools can have Pride celebrations or accurately teach that former President Biden won the 2020 election, growing frustrated and cutting off McMahon when she would not answer yes or no. 'I think our studies should all be taught accurately,' McMahon said. The exchanged highlighted the frustration among Democrats during the hearing as they hammered McMahon over cuts to contracts and employees at the federal agency. McMahon is sitting in front of the House committee to defend her department's priorities while funding considerations are still on the table.
