Local group ready to boycott city of Jacksonville if Confederate monuments aren't removed

A local group is ready to boycott the city of Jacksonville if Confederate monuments aren’t removed.

Ben Frazier, leader of the Northside Coalition said, “Ugly reminders of injustice, of lynchings, of physical beatings, and destruction of black families.”

He told Action News Jax if the city doesn’t remove Confederate tributes activists are ready to hit them in the pocketbook.

“That would in fact be an economic boycott of the city,” explained Frazier.

Confederate statues are still standing in St. Augustine, after many called for their removal in 2017.
The UF Historic St. Augustine has plans for a black soldier monument, and signage to contextualize existing statues.

TRENDING: 

Veteran Seber Newsome III said instead of tearing down statues Jacksonville should build new ones honoring local African-Americans.

He explained, “This is the history of America, this is the soul of America.”

Frazier said the only solution is tearing down the standing monument.

“To put up a black monument next to something that is heinous and horrific will never satisfy what we’re fighting against,” he described.

Frazier said they would like to resolve the issue with the city so they don’t have to boycott – he’ll be speaking with the Chamber of Commerce, City Council, and the mayor in the coming weeks.

Cox Media Group