Scott Jennings: If the Criticism for the Confederate Statue Ever Gets Put Back, It Should Include the Context of the Period

EXCERPT:

JENNINGS: "I‘ll just point out that the statue was originally commissioned and it was approved by the War Department, I think in like 1906 or something and it didn‘t get built until 1914. So it was part of a federal project that I think at the time had good intentions, and numerous U.S. presidents over a period of time acknowledge that. But I think Van makes excellent points, too. You know, if they put it back, I think you have to put it back and you have to tell the context of the period in which it was commissioned and why it was put there. If you don‘t put it back, I think it probably should go in a museum. And in a museum, someone should say, 'Here‘s why it was built. Here‘s why some people think it‘s offensive and here was the historical context going on over 100 years ago.'"