Mayor Deegan appointees demand removal of Andrew Jackson statue, Duval GOP calls for pushback
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Republican Party of Duval County called on Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan to “disavow” calls of her own appointees to remove a statue of Andrew Jackson in the downtown area.
The city was named after Jackson, who was in 1822 the military governor of the Florida territory.
“The conscious left will not stop until we remove all symbols of racism & slavery,” said Leslie Scott Jean-Bart, a member of Deegan’s Transition Committee. “The way the radical white I mean right worships monumental is a sign of desperation. They really could care less about the monuments. They just care about not allowing us to gain any dignity.”
“He’s next,” said Hope McMath, a member of Deegan’s Transition Committee, referring to Jackson.
In a press release, the Duval GOP called Deegan’s order of removal for a Confederate statue this week in the city “unlawful.”
“Given Mayor Deegan’s newfound eagerness for executive fiat, the Duval GOP seeks immediate clarity to whether the Mayor wants to remove the statue of Andrew Jackson and any other monuments the Mayor may deem offensive,” it said.
“Will she again fold to the ‘woke’ mob in her party and remove another statue in the middle of the night?” the party said. “The people of Jacksonville deserve to know.”
Jacksonville mayor has authority to remove Confederate monument, legal memo argues
The Jacksonville Office of General Counsel issued a legal memorandum asserting Deegan’s authority to remove a Confederate monument without direct approval from the city council.
Teams removed the monument at Springfield Park early Wednesday.
The removal did not entail use of city funds, but private money totaling $187,000 via a grant from the Jessie Ball duPont Fund and anonymous donors towards 904WARD.
The Office of General Counsel said “because of the separation of powers, City Council approval was unnecessary since city funds were not being utilized or requested for the work that was completed.”
Per the city’s legal memo, obtained by Florida’s Voice, the Jacksonville mayor has “exclusive authority” over city parks and property. It asserted that city council intervening in this authority would violate the separation of powers under the City Charter.
Rep. Dean Black, R-Jacksonville, called the move a “stunning abuse of power.”
“This action, undertaken in the middle of the night, during the holidays, without consultation of city leaders or a vote by the council, is another in a long line of woke Democrats obsession with Cancel Culture and tearing down history,” Black said.
Black called on the city council to “seek immediate accountability.”
Black filed new legislation in November to protect historical monuments and memorials that he said would protect “all history.” Thursday, Sen. Jon Martin, R-Fort Myers, filed a companion bill.
