BY MILES LAYTON

Let’s get into this…

Sorry for the delay – there’s stories brewing here, there and everywhere on both sides of the Albemarle Sound.  

If you read the story I wrote before Tuesday’s sunrise, then you know that Monday night, the Chowan County Commission approved the Memorandum of Understanding that may – may – set things in motion for when – if – the Confederate Memorial might be relocated at some point in the future. Remember that with lawsuits still pending, no one will be moving any dirt in Veterans Park anytime soon.   

I’m going to start this latest chapter of an ongoing story with this positive and reconciliatory quote from Commission Chairman Bob Kirby following the 5-2 vote to approve the MOU.  

“Christ taught us to love one another – and I love everyone in this room whether you agree, disagree, up, down, left, right – I love all of you people, everyone in this town. It’s not easy to have areas where you disagree. This is one of the few areas that we as a board have been split on, and it pains me that this is the case, but I respect you and we’re going to move on.”  

Why did Commission Vice Chairman Larry McLaughlin vote against the MOU? First, McLaughlin was not thrilled with where the monument might be placed within the space between the Chowan County Detention Center and Veterans Park. As I live within eyesight of the park, that’s a valid observation.

Based on the many other stories I’ve written and what commissioners such as Kirby have said, the memorial has to be placed on county property within Edenton town limits, so real estate that complies with the strict state law regarding placement of these monuments is in short supply. State law is VERY specific about where these kinds of monuments can be placed if relocated – no graveyards or museums; a place of equal stature and prominence. Beaver Hill Cemetery is not an option.

McLaughlin expressed his concern that there is no design/plan yet for erecting the monument at Veterans Park. McLaughlin said he is worried how any design may impact the park and that 30 to 90 days may not be enough time to properly relocate and reconstruct this memorial.  

Commissioner Ron Cummings suggested that there may be more monuments to veterans of various wars added to the park. 

And remember, Cummings said that rather than rely on the Chowan County Detention Center, there may be a new jail built at some point somewhere, so that may affect any future planning when — if — the monument is placed in Veterans Park. 

Point to remember: Edenton will be paying to move and erect the monument, so it’s their project, though the Commission wants some input.  

McLaughlin wanted a provision added to the MOU that the Town and County split the legal bills 50/50 when the County takes ownership of the monument, but that motion failed – 6-1. However, if that measure had passed, then the MOU would’ve changed and the Town would’ve had to discuss that amendment before moving forward. 

That said, when the monument is transferred over to county property, the money to pay the lawyers will come from county funds. Long story short, that money may come from an insurance fund with a $25,000 cap, but only if X, Y and Z conditions are met to pay for litigation. As stated in the earlier story, lawyers don’t come cheap – perhaps charging $400 an hour, maybe more or less. 

McLaughlin noted that the money paid to lawyers comes from taxpayer dollars – funds that could be better spent on more important projects to improve the quality of life in Chowan County.    

With issues of “standing” on one side of the coin and with the anti-monument side waging a war of attrition through “lawfare”, then the issue of the statue’s future is not likely to be settled any time soon.   

Worth noting, Kirby said the County is committed to litigation as needed to uphold state law regarding the placement and relocation of the Confederate Memorial. Remember, the Commission serves as stewards of the County’s interests, so it has a duty to protect county property. And no, there is no state money available to assist the county with paying any legal bills.  

Why did Commissioner Ellis Lawrence oppose the MOU? Lawrence said that after speaking with his constituency, who oppose the statue, he cast his vote against the MOU. Lawrence also said he doesn’t feel the county should pay for the perpetual maintenance and upkeep of the Confederate Memorial.   

Public Comment

Citizens who spoke about the monument were Florian Deltgen, Steven Rader, Lisa Laws, Bill Paul, Deborah Miller, Ronnie Smith, Lin Bond and Michael Dean.  

A retired professor of anthropology and a small business owner who lives in Columbia across the Sound, Florian Deltgen brought up monuments to George Floyd.  

“Those in favor of George Floyd monuments see in them mainly a reminder of police brutality, possibly motivated by racism, while those who oppose such monuments see them mainly as an inappropriate glorification of a violent drug criminal,” he said. “When asked whether I believe that George Floyd monuments should be removed, I said, ‘no,’ they should not be removed because it is an important historical fact that contemporaries have such opposing views of them and that there is obviously some virtue and truth to both of these views. Even drug criminals should not die from police brutality.”

Deltgen ended his speech by saying, “If we reject monuments for Confederate soldiers because their moral compass was wrong, would we not also have to reject monuments to George Floyd because he was a criminal? What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. Seems to me that the controversial views of both types of monuments could coexist under the ancient Chinese motto of ‘Mutual respect.’” 

Here’s this from Bill Paul about those folks dehumanizing others who they disagree with. Referring to last week’s joint Town and County meeting, Paul said, “I’ve never been so offended in my life. I’ve never been called a white supremacist before or a racist. And I’d ask y’all to reframe the future speakers here tonight if they enter this white supremacist name to anybody that you call ’em down, because that is a very, infuriating term, and I resent it, especially since my grandmother was partial minority. God, that’s really infuriating when you hear somebody call me a racist or a white supremacist. So I’ve asked y’all to refrain them from using those terms anyway.”

Paul continued, “If the monument is so moved, which I hope that is not, please take the cannons with them. The question in my mind is, are these people opposed to the Confederacy or the Confederate soldier? Which is it? That’s an important question. The Confederate soldier is, he’s a soldier, and we cannot deny them the honor of being represented in a cemetery per se, which is what that monument is.”

Deborah Miller of Edenton spoke next. Referencing that same joint meeting, Miller said, “Not erasing and preserving history were brought up along with the question of what we want; we being those who want the statute removed. Speaking personally, myself, I’d like to see it removed. I’d like the embarrassing history of white supremacy not crammed out the throat…”

Paul got up to object to using those terms – white supremacy.   

Miller shot back, “I did not interrupt him. I think it’s a disgrace that he has to interrupt me.”

Paul was visibly upset, but he sat down.   

Miller continued, “Speaking for myself. Removal of the embarrassing history of the white supremacy not crammed down the throats of those who have lived it, of those living and visiting here in Edenton and Chowan County. There are other ways of preserving history, museums, books, and I could go on. I truly believe that as other locations have done, you can find a way to rid the town of this and the county of this evil, put due diligence into finding a solution.”

Miller said there are other options to preserving history  

“There are options and there are also exceptions to every rule. Outside of the courthouse where legal equality is expected or towering of the true Veterans Memorial is not a solution. I hate to beat what seems to be a dead horse, but what was the reason for the Human relations commission? I’m guessing a lot of hard work and thought went into the decision made by the group to remove the statute. Did the town want this group just for show or as its mission?” 

Miller continued, “The mission states to strengthen our community by promoting racial equality through activities and policies that foster mutual respect, inclusiveness, and harmony among all our citizens. Why has this mission gone unheard? Mutual respect, inclusiveness, harmony. I think the town and county have missed the mark on this one and by a long shot. In this day and age, you must realize what you are doing by leaving the pain filled statute standing where it is. If you do not realize, listen to the people of the community. And if you do realize the pain and do nothing, shame on you. Please look into your heart and do the respectable and honorable thing and remove the statue.”

Lin Bond of Edenton 

“When the issue came up several years ago, my initial reaction was to transfer the statue to next to the courthouse,” he said. “That was the only logical solution. We need to keep the monument and honor those men who gave the ultimate sacrifice. I’m sure they did not volunteer to fight, did not volunteer to get killed. But the decision was made, they were asked to serve and they did, so we need to remember them. ”

Bond noted other wars such as World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, where veterans were drafted, did their duty, but were killed.

“They did not want to go but they did and we need to honor those men who gave the ultimate sacrifice,” he said. “My position on this is we need to transfer the monument to the courthouse — we need to honor those men who lost their lives. I also think that it should be put on the ballot in November, and it should be voted on county-wide, and let the people decide where and what to do with this monument. That’s a way to solve this situation. ” Emphasis added

Going to give the last word to Lisa Laws of Edenton who came with a solution and she seeks compromise.    

“What I would like to suggest is a template that I’m gonna leave with you that could be used to maybe help this be worked out as a compromise,” she said. “I know you’ve tried to do compromises. There’s people on both sides who are apparently never going to be satisfied with maybe any jurisdiction or location. I think a compromise could happen if we just, as someone said in an article in the Albemarle Observer, a judge, I think it was quoted. 
I think we could provide context for both sides and how strongly everyone feels on both sides… ​​So I have a template, as I said, and I will pass it to you. I think the context for both sides would help everyone.”