Lexington Mayor Jim Gray says two Civil War-era Confederate statues are being moved in a respectful way to a final and appropriate resting place, the Lexington Cemetery.
The mayor made his remarks Friday following an appearance at the Kentucky Humanities office where he spoke about the upcoming Kentucky Book Fair.
Gray believes the relocation of the John Breckinridge and John Hunt Morgan likenesses has been handled correctly.
“We’ve shown the way really for the country in how to do this. We engaged a conversation with the community that went on for a meaningful almost two years,” said Gray.
The mayor says many voices were heard, both supporters and those who opposed the move. He believes the right move was made considering the history of the Cheapside site where men, women, and children were once sold into slavery.
Asked when the two monuments would be placed in the cemetery. Gary said there is not an exact timetable, adding, "They’ve move to a safe and protected place and that’s what’s appropriate for the time being,” noted Gray."
The two statues were lifted off their granite pedestals on the grounds of the historic Old Courthouse Tuesday night and taken to a storage site.
The mayor made his remarks Friday following an appearance at the Kentucky Humanities office where he spoke about the upcoming Kentucky Book Fair.
