Franklin Township officials are moving forward with plans to relocate a 90-year-old confederate monument. The monument was taken from its original location in August, after a protest group called for its removal.
At a meeting Wednesday, Franklin Township officials confirmed the monument will be erected once again, although the exact location has yet to be determined. Township trustees said they’re exploring options along Dixie Highway, as the monument was originally dedicated to the roadway.
The statue, honoring confederate general Robert E. Lee stood on the corner of Dixie Highway and Hamilton Middletown Rd for 90 years, until it was removed by the City of Franklin August 16. City officials said the monument was a public safety hazard. It was subsequently returned to Franklin Township, its legal owner.
Many residents were angered by the removal, claiming the monument represented a part of the town’s history.
The Dayton Chapter of Showing Up for Racial Justice brought attention to the marker after violence erupted at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. That event prompted calls around the country to remove confederate monument.
There’s no word yet on when the monument will be relocated.
