The man who came to dinner in libraries around allendal emichigan allendale township library1/6/2024 “You guys have got to smooth it around the edges - you’re too rough,” Kraker told those opposing the statue during Monday's meeting. Murillo and Trustee Candy Kraker took issue with protesters who derided their stance on keeping the statue over the past year. Elenbaas said Tuesday the board still plans to visit other recommendations made by the committee. ![]() Last month, the committee recommended to remove the statue and replace with three separate statues representing different Union soldiers from West Michigan.ĭuring Monday's meeting, some board members said they would consider fundraising efforts to add the three statues separately, but not in place of the existing statue. More: Committee recommends removal, replacement of controversial Allendale Civil War statue More: Allendale statue of Confederate soldier vandalized again The statue has been damaged on multiple occasions. Over the past year, protests from both camps took place in Allendale, which is about 20 minutes west of Grand Rapids. Last June, the board voted to keep the statue in its current place in the Garden of Honor until a committee formed by the board could reach a recommendation. A lot of our other board members have put themselves out there.Ĭalls to remove the statue first arose in 2020, shortly after the murder of George Floyd, a Black man, by Minneapolis police. "It's a split community and decision, and there are people that feel very passionately in a lot of different directions," he said. ![]() ![]() Those who wished to see the statue removed said it was a racist depiction and made Allendale seem unwelcoming to its Black residents.ĭuring a Tuesday morning press conference, Elenbaas said the split-decision vote reflected the divide in the community over the statue. Those in favor of keeping the statue argued it was a depiction of history, and to remove it would be akin to removing the history of slavery and the Civil War.
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