Emery Wainscott
News Editor
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Murray State College Democrats engaged in multiple protests over the past years for “Move the Monument,” referring to the downtown statue of Robert E. Lee, recently revamping the movement with a hours-long protest on March 13.
President of College Democrats Cady Stribling said the support for the monument is too strong in the broader Murray community, which disappoints her because she views the statue as a symbol of hate.
“This is a movement, not a moment,” Stribling said. “…Yet, this area is a product of history and hate being carried through over generations, and our corner of western Kentucky has an especially horrific past when it comes to treatment of the Black community.”
At the March 13 protest, the group faced backlash in response to a chalk drawing of a rainbow on the sidewalk. Chair of the Activism Committee Libby Gerdes said one of the counter-protestors interpreted this as LGBT-related and wrote “Hate the gays” on the sidewalk in response.
“Most passersby ignore us, some show obscenities and fewer honk in support,” Gerdes said. “It seems like a greater population of the student body supports us, but a large portion still oppose moving the monument.”
In order for the monument to be moved, county officials will have to vote on its relocation. At the last vote, the officials voted to keep it in its place.
Stribling said their main defense is while it is technically on county property, it is owned by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, who would have to request to remove it themselves.
“When trying to garner involvement and energy in this movement, we are really looking inward toward our fellow students and community members who want the best for our town,” Stribling said. “This movement is not possible without the power of the people, so we need every supporter to step up in whatever capacity they feel comfortable.”
In 2020, former Volunteer Assistant Football Coach Sherman Neal II revisited discussion of moving the monument and the “Move the Monument” protests, bringing the issue to city and county officials.
This was before the Black Lives Matter demonstrations in 2020, but Stribling said after that movement, the national attention caused “Move the Monument” to kick off in Murray.
Around this time, College Democrats protested consistently at the monument and held a larger Black Lives Matter protest in regards to the Breonna Taylor verdict.
College Democrats now protest a couple times a semester rather than weekly. Stribling said the passion and care is still there, but protesting alone will not move the monument—this will take electing county officials who will vote to remove it.
Another reason why the protests have been less frequent is because of intense backlash. At the time of Neal’s actions, Stribling said he faced threats from counter-protestors, and College Democrats has received the same treatment, including dangerous and uncomfortable environments at the protest to the point of physical and verbal assault.
“We peacefully protest, and supporters of the monument consistently bombard our members with hate, threats and targeting,” Stribling said. “We are college students facing these grown adults who have put us in scary situations.”
As a result, College Democrats shifted their focus to writing letters to state legislators and educating the public on why they believe the statue should be removed.
Ultimately, Stribling said the group advocates to move the monument to a more appropriate location, which has always been the message of the movement.
“We understand that many people in the area care about the Confederate monument and view it as a town symbol and historical monument,” Stribling said. “While we heavily disagree, we do not advocate to tear it down or damage it in any way. History has a place and time — and it’s not on city property, in the heart of downtown, in the year 2022. Let’s do better.”
Follow the College Democrats Instagram @msucollegedems for updates on more upcoming “Move the Monument” protests this semester.
