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Watch: 120 people speak on proposal to remove Confederate statues in Jacksonville

By Larry Spruill and Action News Jax
By Larry Spruill and Action News Jax

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — UPDATE: Jacksonville mayor: Confederate monuments are not my priority

More than 100 people commented on City Council President Anna Lopez Brosche's proposal to remove Confederate statues from public land at a City Council meeting Tuesday.

The debate over the statues heated up after the deadly violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, earlier this month.

The City Council began accepting public comment on the statues just before 8:30 p.m. and continued until just after 11 p.m.

One hundred and twenty-three people signed up to speak to council members and each person was given 90 seconds.

Speakers expressed their opinions with passion. Some said the statues represent slavery and racism while others said the statues honor Southern history.

Before the meeting began, and several times during the meeting, council members stressed that no legislation on removing statues and monuments has been put forth at this time.

READ ACTION NEWS JAX REPORTER LARRY SPRUILL'S TWEETS FROM THE MEETING:

WATCH THE FULL CITY COUNCIL MEETING, AS BROADCASTED ON THE ACTION NEWS JAX FACEBOOK PAGE (Warning: May contain explicit language):

Jacksonville City Council meeting: Public comment expected on ...

WATCH LIVE: City Council members will hear public comment on a proposal to remove Confederate statues and monuments in Jacksonville. Do you think the statues should be removed from public property? Vote: http://www.actionnewsjax.com/vote Background: http://bit.ly/2vccUiR

Posted by Action News Jax on Tuesday, August 22, 2017

WATCH LIVE: City Council members to hear public comment on a proposal to remove Confederate statues and monuments in Jacksonville. Do you think the statues should be removed from public property? Vote: http://www.actionnewsjax.com/vote Background: http://bit.ly/2vccUiR

Posted by Action News Jax on Tuesday, August 22, 2017

WATCH LIVE: City Council members to hear public comment on a proposal to remove Confederate statues and monuments in Jacksonville. Do you think the statues should be removed from public property? Vote: http://www.actionnewsjax.com/vote Background: http://bit.ly/2vccUiR

Posted by Action News Jax on Tuesday, August 22, 2017

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