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Alabama and national media ( @JohnArchibald @WarOnDumb @JohnHammontree @chrislhayes @maddow @JoyceWhiteVance)-- I want to tell you about a compelling story developing in Florence, AL. We're trying to get a confederate monument on the grounds of the Lauderdale Co. Courthouse down.
The city and the mayor want it down, but the monument is on Lauderdale Co. property. The County commission has, apparently, told the city it can do what it wants with the monument. Still- the monument stands. But this isn't what's compelling...
What's compelling is the *daily* protests at 6pm in front of the monument. Led by black activists and joined by concerned citizens, these protests are worthy of your coverage. This is a small town in rural Alabama reckoning with their past in real time.
We know about this area's music history.
But groups like @speakupsouth are here, on the ground, doing the daily work to get our community to understand the other parts of our history, too.
BOTTOM LINE: There are, daily, between 25-50 people gathering in front of the Lauderdale Co. Courthouse, facing counter protestors some days (but snickering and taunting every day), working to educate the community and get that monument relocated.
If you want to tell a compelling story and educate the rest of America to how change happens (ever so incrementally) in the rural South, send a journalist and a camera crew to Florence. DM me for the right contacts. This is a story worth telling.
Without outside attention, elected leaders can continue to stonewall. We need the spotlight and they need the pressure. This is a moment to educate the country. Come tell this story!
MORE BACKGROUND: This is the speech delivered in 1903 when this monument was dedicated.
EVEN MORE BACKGROUND: This is Project Say Something's leader, Camille Bennett, speaking on the subject on Huntsville local TV:
FINAL NOTE: You can contact Camille directly at @staywokesouth. Y'all journalists should do that. She's worth knowing and putting on your programs!
