St. Augustine family concerned about comments made regarding Confederate monument

Local families voiced concerns about comments made by a St. Augustine city commissioner regarding a Confederate monument in Plaza de la Constitucion Monday.

Jill Pacetti’s cousin is one of the names listed on the memorial, she wants to make sure it isn’t removed.

“He went to a war that he was drafted in and he was never returned home for a proper burial," Pacetti told Action News Jax.

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In 2017 city commissioners voted to add plaques around the memorial providing context about slavery and white supremacy.

During the meeting on April 8, Commissioner Nancy Sikes-Kline commented about improving race relations and revisiting the discussion.

“That alarmed us as family members of these fallen men and we didn’t want to remain complacent,” Pacetti said.

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She explained that the wording is what she expected.

The former candidate for city commission described, “I don’t think it’s very respectful to rewrite the history of what may or may not have happened during that period of time.”

Action News Jax Reporter Beth Rousseau e-mailed Sikes-Kline about the comments.

She responded:

There is nothing on tonight's agenda for the topic of removing the monument — there has been misinformation put out on that.

I do not intend to revive discussion regarding the placement of the plaques tonight. In fact I will not be in attendance tonight due to a long scheduled medical procedure.

I am informed that the plaques are in the final phase of construction and will proceed until fully constructed.

Concrete has already been laid for the plaques.

Sikes-Kline was not at Monday night’s meeting due to a previously scheduled appointment.

Cox Media Group