Take ’Em Down NOLA, the organization urging the removal of all statues and monuments with connections to the confederacy or pre-Civil War South, held a protest in Lafayette Square Saturday evening.
Lafayette Square contains a second statue of John McDonogh which may be targeted for removal.
The event started at 6pm. There was then a march to Jackson Square.
Chants included, "We can't get no satisfaction, 'til we take down Andrew Jackson."
In a post about the event, the group listed the following demands:
- Demand 1: Release an immediate timeline to remove ALL symbols to white supremacy, which includes the street names, school names, monuments and parks.
- Demand 2: The city needs to follow a community driven process for any replacement monuments/symbols in the city.
- Demand 3: Enact Take Em Down NOLA’s ordinance now, that demands only confederate symbolism be removed. When we say ALL symbols to white supremacy need to be removed, we mean all. This includes all racist, slave owning, genocidal symbols of exploitation and oppression.
- Demand 4: Because we know that symbols to white supremacy represent SYSTEMS to white supremacy, we demand that the police be abolished. Flip the budget, and instead of investing in police and jails, invest in the people (children/families/LIVING wage job development).
The post accuses politicians of not moving fast enough to remove statues.
"When the elected officials take too long to care for the demands of the people, it leaves the people to find ways to meet those demands for self! This is the will of the people, and self-determination of a people will not be silenced."
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell warned protesters not to destroy monuments or statues.
That came after protesters tore down a bust of John McDonogh in Duncan Plaza and dumped it along the Mississippi River. Others retrieved the statue and eventually returned it in to the city.
McDonogh was a slave owner who later released slaves and arranged for some to return to Africa. He donated millions for public schools.
WWL’s multimedia reporter Amos Morale III was at the event.
From reports it appeared both the protest and the march to Jackson Square were peaceful without any reports of unrest.
TRAFFIC ALERT! Royal Street near Conti in the French Quarter is blocked as demonstrators are at the courthouse and the eighth district police station. Traffic in CBD is flowing normal again.
— NOPD (@NOPDNews)
June 28, 2020 TRAFFIC UPDATE! Demonstrators are marching from Lafayette Square through the CBD, the exact route is unknown. Expect traffic delays in the area as 500 to 750 demonstrators make their way to Jackson Square.
— NOPD (@NOPDNews)
June 28, 2020
