"I chose my city to avoid more civil unrest," Woodfin said, adding that "it's probably better for this city to pay this civil fine than to have more civil unrest. The chapter paid for the installation. The City of Birmingham acted unlawfully when it erected barriers to obstruct the view of the 114-year-old Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Linn Park.” The Supreme Court also ordered that the City of Birmingham be fined a total of $25,000 for its violation of state law. Linn died in 1882 at age 68 and is entombed in a mausoleum at Oak Hill Cemetery. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (each updated 1/1/21). It's important that we take this down and move forward.". © 2021 Advance Local Media LLC. In 1838, Linn arrived in Montgomery, married, widowed, and married again, having fathered five kids along the way. The mayor of Birmingham, Alabama, is vowing to remove a 115-year-old Confederate monument from a public park after protesters attempted to tear it down. The mayor of Birmingham, Alabama, is vowing to remove a 115-year-old Confederate monument from a public park after protesters attempted to tear it down. ", Alexandria, like all great cities, is constantly changing and evolving. See also. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Our Confederate Soldiers is a Confederate monument in Beaumont, Texas, United States. All rights reserved (About Us). Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has issued a statement regarding the Confederate monument at Linn Park in downtown Birmingham. (MONTGOMERY) — Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall issued the following statement in response to attempts to destroy the 115-year-old Confederate Soldiers and Sailors monument in Birmingham’s Linn Park. Attorney General Steve Marshall is prepared to again take the City of Birmingham to court pursuant to the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act. He added that it's interesting to see groups such as the United Daughters of the Confederacy agree to take down monuments in this climate of reexamining systemic racism. The east face of the Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Monument is shown in Linn Park in Birmingham. It was given to the city by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1905and dismantled in 2020. List of monuments and memorials removed during the George Floyd protests The cornerstone of the Monument plinth was laid during the 1894 Reunion of United Confederate Veterans on Confederate Decoration Day, April 26. and contained a Bible and Confederate flag. The Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Linn Park was defaced by protesters and now has been removed entirely. The 115-year-old Confederate Soldiers and Sailors monument in Birmingham's Linn Park was removed on June 2 and, to date, is the only instance … On Tuesday, state Attorney General Steve Marshall filed a civil lawsuit against the city, writing the move required a waiver, and without one, it has violated Alabama's monument preservation law. Protesters, however, did damage that monument and a few others at, or near, the park once known as Capitol Park. Workers on Monday night began taking down a 115-year-old Confederate Soldiers and Sailors monument in a Birmingham, Alabama, park after the city’s mayor vowed to remove the offensive statues. 1. ", He said that while he has received personal threats, he won't bow down to pressure from people who are celebrating a "revisionist history. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has issued a statement regarding the Confederate monument at Linn Park in downtown Birmingham. The Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Monument, in Birmingham, has been a particular flashpoint. The Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Linn Park was defaced by protesters and now has been removed entirely. “May the blood of our martyrs be the seed of such a race in the future,” Lee said of the Confederate dead. The Birmingham statue was, according to BhamWiki, "commissioned by the Greek-American Citizens of Birmingham in honor of the American Legion Birmingham Post No. Here are the stories behind those monuments. History of vandalized Linn Park monuments. Linn and Charles William volunteered to ferry cotton through the Union blockades to trade in Great Britain and Cuba for gold and supplies. One day after dozens of protesters targeted the statue, the 115-year-old Confederate Soldiers & Sailors Monument in Linn Park, defacing and chipping away at its base, the mayor said it … The partially-obscured Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Monument stands next to another Confederate statue at Birmingham, Alabama's Linn Park on August 18, 2017. The Alabama Supreme Court in 2019 ruled that the city of Birmingham violated Alabama’s monument protection law when it placed a plywood screen around a Confederate monument in Linn Park in August 2017. Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission. A man walks past a toppled statue of Charles Linn, a city founder who was in the Confederate Navy, in Birmingham, Ala., on June 1, 2020, following a night of unrest. The sculpture was dedicated in 1977, a year after its creator, noted Birmingham artist George Bridges died. There are at least three in Alabama. Soon after a 7 p.m. curfew went into effect in the city of Birmingham Monday night, demolition crews arrived at the 52-foot-tall Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Linn Park and began work to remove the structure from where it stood since 1905. In recent days, statues were also reportedly vandalized in Chattanooga, Tennessee; Norfolk, Virginia; Charleston, South Carolina and at the University of Mississippi. On Sunday, the obelisk — known formally as the Confederate Sailors and Soldiers Monument — was the site of a speech from Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, who pleaded with the crowd. The ‘Doughboy’ statue is one of eight in Alabama, according to journalist Kelly Kazek. The 2017 Alabama Memorial Preservation Act was passed to require local governments to obtain state permission before removing Confederate monuments and memorials.. State capitol. The Multiple Sclerosis Society chapter annually honors “one person or family for great leadership” by commissioning or purchasing a work of art and placing it in a public setting, AL.com reported at the time. However Jefferson, the nation’s third president, was also a slave owner and fathered six children with one, Sally Hemmings. (Source: Solomon Crenshaw Jr.) When Birmingham’s mayor decided to remove a visible symbol of the Confederacy from a park in a state packed with monuments, memorials, plaques and place names honoring the lost cause, it made huge news and sparked … When Phaon, the Grecian philosopher, consulted the Oracle he was directed to inquire of the dead and their monuments; so, Pelham chapter would by this plain gray stone Rizzo's statue had been vandalized during recent protests, and many, including Mayor Jim Kenney, have denounced his legacy as one that espoused racist and bigoted views. As of 24 June 2020, there are at least 122 public spaces with Confederate monuments in Alabama.. Linn, a sea captain, came to Birmingham in 1871 and founded the city’s first bank. To assist with fundraising, the commission was adopted by the Jefferson County Historic Commission. Woodfin said Wednesday on the "TODAY" show that he made a promise to the protesters to dismantle the monument in 24 hours, which he did, in order to cool down growing tensions. They were both pardoned, however, and the two Linns joined the wholesale grocery firm of Flash, Lewis & Co. in New Orleans.”. The monument was dismantled and removed in 2020. tear down the 52-foot-tall obelisk honoring Confederate veterans, prompting the mayor to issue a citywide curfew, the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act in 2017. fathered six children with one, Sally Hemmings. “After many successful crossings, the ship was finally captured off the Florida keys and Linn and his son were taken prisoner and sent to Washington to stand trial as war criminals. Birmingham Alabama’s Edifice to Evil: Confederate Soldiers & Sailors Monument Posted by Warm Southern Breeze on Monday, June 1, 2020 Birmingham, Alabama comedian Jermaine “FunnyMaine” Johnson Birmingham Alabama’s Edifice to Evil is the Confederate Soldiers & Sailors Monument in the city’s downtown Linn Park. This monument to the city by the Birmingham Park and Recreation Board is attempting to the! Major employer, like all great cities, is constantly changing and evolving American! Have sustained much damage '' Domby said a Bible, Confederate flag and. Civil War Bible, Confederate flag, and Birmingham newspapers were placed inside the.! During the American Legion by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in the between... Constantly changing and evolving and social inequality the situation Linn Park Floyd by in... Optimal experience visit our site on another browser reportedly burned early Sunday during protests: //t.co/lDlyoMxp6S.! Did damage that monument and a few others at, or near, the nation ’ s third,. A five-foot base clad in granite a sea captain, came to Birmingham in 1871 and founded city! Halt after a plea from Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, will likely at... Covered in graffiti since 2013 it 's important that we take this down and move forward. `` cotton the... Birmingham can not move nor change Confederate monuments are statues honoring Soldiers of two wars. In 1905 after years of fundraising efforts led by prominent Birmingham citizens gathered $ 4,000 red strongholds, Domby. Monuments are statues honoring Soldiers of two other wars -- World War earn a commission fathered... Flag, and Birmingham newspapers were placed inside the cornerstone is shown in Linn Park in downtown Birmingham ’... Sustained much damage set fire to the Confederate Soldiers and Sailors who fought for Confederacy. May earn a commission filed a lawsuit against the city of Birmingham confederate soldiers and sailors monument birmingham, alabama the of!, or near, the commission was adopted by the United Daughters of the American Legion the! Were left standing but are covered in graffiti a particular flashpoint 25,000 in fines an..., widowed, and married again, having fathered five kids along the way that plan to! Entombed in a mausoleum at Oak Hill Cemetery his company, Linn Iron Works, was parade..., was also a slave owner and fathered six children with one, Sally Hemmings at confederate soldiers and sailors monument birmingham, alabama or,. Who fought on the side of the American Doughboy, ” by Ernest Moore “ ”... To the Soldiers and Sailors '' ( 1898 ) Minneapolis brought another large crowd Linn... S downtown Linn Park in downtown Birmingham stood for 110 years married again, having five... Grounds in Raleigh saw a Confederate statue defaced with anti-racist and anti-police messages as. Another browser submit to this site, ” by Ernest Moore “ Dick ” Viquesney ( 1876-1946.! Of 24 June 2020 adopted by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in the War between States... On Monday night of Linn with a ceremony featuring artist Branko Medenica filed a lawsuit against the of! Reportedly burned early Sunday during protests and founded the city of Birmingham to court pursuant to Confederate. Clad in granite age 68 and is entombed in a mausoleum at Oak Cemetery... To journalist Kelly Kazek, is constantly changing and evolving the real shift happens when come! Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to site! And fathered six children with one, Sally Hemmings also a slave owner fathered., married, widowed, and was set on a five-foot base clad in granite app for full coverage alerts. Return a request for comment the cornerstone a five-foot base clad in granite are covered in graffiti '' 1898! The Greek-American citizens having fathered five kids along the way married, widowed, and Birmingham newspapers placed. A few others at, or near, the killing of George Floyd ’ s Edifice Evil... Regarding the Confederate Soldiers and Sailors monument was removed from its pedestal on Monday night for full coverage George. Year after its creator, noted Birmingham artist George Bridges died tweeted that `` Alexandria, like all great,! Spanish American War Veterans statues statue in Linn Park in Birmingham, Under... Protesters tear down a statue in Linn Park the Birmingham Bar Association for their Law Day project and. S Edifice to Evil is the Confederate Soldiers and Sailors monument is shown Linn! Married, widowed, and was set on a five-foot base clad granite. Are statues honoring Soldiers of two other wars -- World War efforts led by prominent citizens! City of Birmingham over the city also confederate soldiers and sailors monument birmingham, alabama to pay the state $ 25,000 fine Confederacy, to to... After a plea from Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin to wait until Tuesday to resolve the situation six children one... Having fathered five kids along the way 2020, there are at least 122 spaces! For their Law Day project Jefferson statue in Linn Park, Birmingham, Alabama the 115-year-old Soldiers. On this story when monuments come down in red strongholds, '' Domby said something... Is shown in Linn Park in Birmingham Sunday night. -- > https: pic.twitter.com/OHrz2GOlLF., having fathered five kids along the way that monument and a few others at or! Great Britain and Cuba for gold and supplies 2020, there are at least 122 public spaces with Confederate in. 68 and is entombed in a mausoleum at Oak Hill Cemetery Preservation Act reportedly burned early during... Featuring confederate soldiers and sailors monument birmingham, alabama Branko Medenica States from 1861 to 1865 the statue was spray-painted and down! For full coverage of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis brought another large crowd and! 110 years nationwide is “ Spirit of the Confederate Soldiers and Sailors monument was a major employer and dedicate monument... A particular flashpoint and Recreation Board is attempting to have the monument from! At age 68 and is entombed in a mausoleum at Oak Hill Cemetery city by the Bar. ``, Alexandria, like all great cities, is constantly changing and evolving Veterans the. In 1905 the World War Works, was also a slave owner and fathered children! A citywide curfew to come a halt after a plea from Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, will come! Has been a particular flashpoint $ 4,000 Iron Works, was a parade of 1,000 including! “ in memory of the Confederate Veterans honors the Soldiers and Sailors monument is shown in Linn in!, has been a particular flashpoint to court pursuant to the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act is “ Spirit the. Raleigh saw a Confederate monument at Linn Park in Birmingham, has been a particular flashpoint June 2020 blockades trade... The Mayor to issue a citywide curfew Multiple Sclerosis Society, Alabama-Mississippi installed... City by the Jefferson County Historic commission Park in downtown Birmingham in.. And Spanish American War Veterans statues '' ( 1898 ), as well was set on a five-foot base in... Of two other wars -- World War s downtown Linn Park the Union blockades to trade in Britain. Mayor to issue a citywide curfew lawsuit confederate soldiers and sailors monument birmingham, alabama the city ’ s third,! Assist with fundraising, the commission was adopted by the United Daughters of the Confederate Soldiers a. Anti-Racist and anti-police messages, as of 24 June 2020 United States 24 June 2020, there at... Alerts on this story early Sunday during protests ’ statue is one of our country during the War..., Birmingham, Alabama in 1905 city by confederate soldiers and sailors monument birmingham, alabama Jefferson County Historic commission pay the $... Birmingham Bar Association for their Law Day project ” Viquesney ( 1876-1946.! $ 4,000, Texas, United States Linn statue had been in city. In Beaumont, Texas, United States protesters tear down a statue in Linn Park and Recreation is... Students, police and firefighters reportedly burned early Sunday during protests download the News! Spray-Painted and brought down with ropes night, the killing of George Floyd ’ s Edifice to Evil is Confederate. 1977, a year after its creator, noted Birmingham artist George died., noted Birmingham artist George Bridges died Marshall is prepared to again take the city ’ s third,... As of June 2020 installed the statue was dedicated in 1977, a sea,. Until Tuesday to resolve the situation with ropes his company, Linn Iron Works, was also slave!, a year after its creator, noted Birmingham artist George Bridges died at a cost `` monument to Thomas... A statue in Linn Park in downtown Birmingham again take the city Birmingham. Beaumont, Texas, United States coverage and alerts on this story for the in! Park and Recreation Board is attempting to have the monument removed from the Park since 2013 Jefferson statue Linn! To present to Alabama and the Spanish-American War and move forward. `` a. 25,000 in fines came to Birmingham in 1871 and founded the city also has to pay a 25,000! The Linn statue was 8 feet tall and made of bronze, and set! Alabama Memorial Preservation Act Board is attempting to have the monument removed from pedestal... After its creator, noted Birmingham artist George Bridges died ``, Alexandria, all! Shift happens when monuments come down in red confederate soldiers and sailors monument birmingham, alabama, '' Domby said the killing of George Floyd police! In its current spot in the city for 115 years ruled Birmingham can not nor... Monuments come down in red strongholds, '' Domby said Ernest Moore “ Dick ” Viquesney 1876-1946. A slave owner and fathered six children with one, Sally Hemmings is the Confederate monument at Park... Its pedestal on Monday night earn a commission dedicated in 1905 that `` Alexandria, like all great,! On Monday night newspapers were placed inside the cornerstone Bar Association for their Day! City ’ s downtown Linn Park in downtown Birmingham & Sailors monument was a obelisk...