Black leaders urge Matt Bevin to remove Jefferson Davis statue from Kentucky Capitol
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Eleven African-American leaders in Kentucky have sent Gov. Matt Bevin a letter urging that he support the removal of the statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis from the rotunda of the Capitol.
"Governor Bevin, the nation is watching you, and history is recording how you will respond to this present day moral imperative," the letter states. "In this the 225th anniversary of Kentucky statehood, we are respectfully asking you to reconsider your decision."
The letter is dated Aug. 23 and is on stationery of the Kentucky African American Heritage Commission, whose chairman, Gerald L. Smith, is listed first on the letter. Others who sent the letter are: seven members of the Kentucky Black Legislative Caucus; John J. Johnson, executive director of the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights; Stan Holmes, president of Kentucky Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials; and Raoul Cunningham, president of the Kentucky State Conference of the NAACP.
The groups endorsing the letter have also scheduled a rally in the rotunda at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday to demonstrate support for removing the Davis statue from the rotunda.
Read more: http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2017/08/25/black-leaders-urge-matt-bevin-remove-confederate-statue-kentucky-capitol/600862001/