REUTERS/Jonathan Bachman
The second of four Confederate monuments in New Orleans was removed overnight in an operation to take down what some believe are symbols of racism—but not without a fight. Protests followed the removal of the statue, which saltued Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Those who argue the monuments honor Southern heritage—as well as those who believe the statues are long-lasting symbols of white supremacy—took to the area early Thursday morning. Mayor Mitch Landrieu called the operation a “long overdue process of removing four statues that honor ‘the Lost Cause of the Confederacy.’” A heavy police presence monitored the two groups, who were separated by barricades and engaged in shouting matches against one another throughout the early morning hours. “The fight that we’re waging is against the city fathers who have refused to bring about genuine equality and freedom for the black people here,” said Malcolm Suber, who said he’s in an activist organization called #TakeEmDownNOLA. Others, on the opposing side, shouted things like “I PRAY for another Katrina,” referring to the deadly hurricane and flood that disproportionately killed black New Orleans residents and left many homeless.