Should Statues of Andrew Jackson be Removed from County Courthouses?

ANDREW JACKSON STATUE IN FRONT OF DOWNTOWN COURTHOUSE

With statues being removed around the country, people are starting to wonder what is going to happen with similar statues in Kansas City. There are a few confederate monuments in the city, as well as some statues, celebrating the lives of people who actively supported slavery.

There are many reminders around the city that Missouri was a slave state. In addition to statues and monuments, there are many counties and streets that are named after men who owned slaves, were on the side of the confederacy during the civil war, or did things to actively harm people of color.

“Removing the statues and changing some names is a step in the right direction,”says Destiny Hanks, Kansas City area resident. Jackson County is the namesake of Andrew Jackson.

This county along with neighboring counties were all named after slave owners including Johnson, Cass and Clay counties. Troost Avenue, McGee Street, and Wornall Road are also named after slave owners.

“I give props to those that are making the steps to change for the better of our history,” says Ms. Hanks.

County Executive Frank White hasstated that he is interested in getting theAndrew Jackson stat-ues removed from thefront of two countycourthouses. One of these statues has been vandalized. It was spray painted with the phrase “Slave Owner,” along with other words.

The statue of Andrew Jackson is not the only statue in the area that has been vandalized. In 2017, the United Daughters of the Confederacy monument on Ward Parkway was defaced and removed a few days later. The monument was put away toavoid more vandalism.There have alreadybeen motions towardgetting rid of certainnames like J.C. Nich-ols, whose name is tobe removed from thefountain and parkway.

*Published in The Call Newspaper July 10, 2020 Issue*