Sixteenth Street Baptist Church
MONTGOMERY – Governor Robert Bentley on Friday issued a statement on the new Civil Rights National Monuments designated by President Obama. Read the full statement below.
“In Alabama, we don’t hide from our history or the events of the past; we reflect on those events and use them as guidance for a successful future. These new national monuments in Birmingham and Anniston, designated by President Obama, will help teach Alabamians, future generations and the rest of the world the important lessons learned during the Civil Rights Movement,” Governor Bentley said. “The new monuments will tell important stories of the Freedom Riders, the fatal
Freedom Riders National Monument
bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in 1963 and so many more untold accounts of the brave men and women who fought inequality to bring about needed change. I want to thank all the dedicated men and women and local elected officials involved in making the national monuments possible and ensuring the legacy of all those involved in the Civil Rights movement is not forgotten.”
The Obama administration designated three new national monuments Thursday honoring civil rights history as it commemorates next week’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The monuments are the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument in Alabama, the Freedom Riders National Monument in Anniston, Alabama, and the Reconstruction Era National Monument in South Carolina.
Media Release/Office of Alabama Governor Robert Bentley
1 comment
Governor Bentley stated in this article, that we don’t hide from our history or the events of the past, yet he removes our flags of heritage, removed the portraits of former governors, and erects new monuments honoring others. I am not saying that these monument are not worthy of being erected, but quite the contrary, they are also an important part of our state’s history. I believe it inappropriate to remove and try to discredit a part of our history and replace it with other symbols.