Georgia lawmaker wants state commission on historic monuments

Joseph E. Brown Monument
A monument to former Georgia Gov. Joseph E. Brown stands on the grounds of the Georgia Capitol on Jan. 5, 2017. (Photo by Todd DeFeo/The DeFeo Groupe)

ATLANTA — A Georgia state lawmaker is introducing legislation to create a state commission on historic monuments.

State Rep. Vernon Jones, D-Lithonia, said he plans to introduce the bill during the Georgia General Assembly’s 2018 legislative session.

“The recent events in Charlottesville, Va., have spurred on calls for the removal of historical monuments and artifacts that honor a dark era in Georgia’s history,” Jones said in a news release. “While I have my personal beliefs on the matter, I propose that a bipartisan, systematic and transparent study be conducted in an effort to arrive at an inclusive solution.”

If approved and signed into law, the commission would hold statewide hearings to discuss historic monuments and artifacts. The body would make recommendations to the governor and the General Assembly about monument placement and whether new monuments that hold historic value should be erected.

“Hysteria and knee jerk reactions are not the solution,” Jones said. “Sensitive subjects such as this deserve calm, practical and open dialogue. A house divided cannot stand, and Georgians must show the nation that we can unite for the greater good.”

Commission members would reflect and represent a broad spectrum of interest on the subject, and would include, but not be limited to, preservationists, historians and advocacy groups.

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About Sightseers’ Delight 493 Articles
Sightseers’ Delight started publishing in June 2016. The site, published by The DeFeo Groupe, collects and curates content about places where historical events large and small happened. The site builds off the legacy of The Travel Trolley, which launched in June 2009. The site aimed to be a virtual version of the trolley tours offered in so many cities.