CITY of NORFOLK Office ofthe Mayor Keith on Aesth tiger ‘August 16,2017 Dear Colleagues: In 2015, Norfolk City Council received numerous requests to remove the confederate ‘monument at Commercial Place on Main Street. The council discussed the mater at its September 2015 retreat, and was unanimous in its view to leave the monument in place, noting its histori value Last weekend's tragic events in Charlotesville have resulted in renewed requests to the council for the monuments removal. Ihave not reached a firm opinion on a response, but T have some thoughts on the matter, Certainly, you do as well and [ want us to have an opportunity fora full and thoughtful discussion. I is appropriate for us to re-examine the matter. ‘To help frame any discussion, it may be helpful to note that the confederate monument was erected as a remembrance of Norfolk citizens who lost their lives while serving in confederate forees during the civil war, Similarly, black city couneil member and Union veteran James E. Fuller later organized a fund-raising effort to erect a monument to commemorate Aftican ‘Americans from Norfolk who lest their lives serving inthe Union forces. He did not live to see it ‘ocompletion, but today, the result of his initiative canbe seen in West Point Cemetery, which he was also instrumental in establishing. The monument depicts Medal of Honor recipient and [Norfolk native William A. Carey posed atop a stone base There is also the question of whether the confederate monument remains suitable for downtown given the seale ofthe architecture and the fact that Commercial Plae is no longer the hub of activity it was when Norfolk was a much smaller ety If our discussion results ina decision to remove the confederate monument, my recommendation would be to find a suitable location for it~ perhaps in Elmwood Cemetery where ‘confederate veterans are itered, twill then remain in @ pbc sewing and in @ context ike that of Fuller's monument to black Union dead, Sincerely, Ie a ee eae Mayor 1 Union Suet + Sale 101+ Nort, Veit 23510 (157) 644679 «Fa (15) $499 henge alsanderBoalh oe