Jacksonville Mayor Orders Removal of Confederate Monument Amid Controversy

Mayor Donna Deegan bypasses City Council approval using private funds, sparking criticism from conservatives.

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan ordered the removal of the Confederate monument 'Tribute to the Women of the Southern Confederacy' from Springfield Park.
The monument, erected in 1915, was seen by some as a symbol of racial discrimination and the promotion of Jim Crow laws.
Deegan's decision faced criticism from conservatives, including Florida state Rep. Dean Black, who called it a 'stunning abuse of power'.
The removal was funded by a grant from the Jessie Ball duPont Fund and anonymous donors, not city funds, which allowed Deegan to bypass City Council approval.
The monument will be held in city storage until a decision is made about its future.