P.O. Box 471 Huntsville, AL 35804

downtownhuntsville.org

256-858-1857

Statement by Downtown Huntsville, Inc. Regarding Removal and Relocation of the Confederate
Memorial on the Downtown Huntsville Courthouse Square

The tragic killing of George Floyd has magnified the deep pain experienced by African American and
other members of our community. We are heartbroken by this pain and believe a true path toward
healing requires more than words of reconciliation or statements of empathy and support.
Rather, this path toward understanding and healing requires specific actions to directly advance this
critical process. Today, we advocate that one such step should be the removal and relocation of the
Confederate Memorial from the Downtown Huntsville Courthouse Square to a historically-contextual
location that would allow our community to learn from the great pain that this memorial represents
while also removing it from our community’s courthouse grounds.
We implore our government leaders on all levels to utilize all available means to take this step to
promote the healing process. We understand that the removal and relocation of this artifact will not
remove historical prejudices and pain by itself, but we hope it represents a sincere statement to our
fellow community members that we are listening to their pain and seek to meaningfully further a
process of healing together with them.

On behalf of the Downtown Huntsville, Inc. Board of Directors,
Chad Emerson
President and CEO

William Stroud
Board Chair

Downtown Huntsville Inc., P.O. Box 471, Huntsville, AL 35804