CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – The City of Clarksville will settle a lawsuit filed by the Sons of Confederate Veterans over the temporary removal of a monument and signage from Confederate Soldiers Memorial Bridge, located on Cumberland Drive.
The memorial and sign were relocated in June by order of Mayor Joe Pitts in response to the growing Black Lives Matter movement, during which local protestors gathered on Wilma Rudolph Boulevard for 93 days.
Both monument and signs were returned to their original locations in October.
“I made the decision to remove and store the monument and sign in early June, out of an abundance of caution during the heat of the George Floyd-related demonstrations. I didn’t want them to be vandalized or become a flashpoint,” Pitts told Clarksville Now in October.
The monument and signs were originally erected on Cumberland Drive by the Frank P. Gracey Camp 225 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans with a bridge dedication being approved in August 2001.
The same group has now filed a lawsuit against the city for the monument’s removal, alleging a violation of the Tennessee Heritage Protection Act, which prohibits the redesignation or removal of monuments without approval from the Tennessee Historical Commission.
The City Council on Thursday night unanimously voted to approve a $33,000 settlement, plus $1,000 in court fees, with Camp 225, with Pitts noting that his vote was a “reluctant” aye.
“We have talked about this, I think, at length,” said Ward 12 Councilman Jeff Burkhart. “I think this is just our best avenue.”
Pitts and several council members agreed this was the best way to avoid the possibility of losing federal grants should they be found in violation of the Tennessee Heritage Protection Act.
‘Good trouble’
Pitts has previously emphasized that the monument’s installation was not his idea, and there has been some talk among the City Council of renaming the bridge.
“Let me just say the decision to place the monument and name the bridge was made by the City Council in the early 2000s, long before I was elected mayor. So this is a situation I inherited, and I’m trying to manage it and get an appropriate outcome for the city,” Pitts said in October.
Thursday night, Ward 6 Councilwoman Wanda Smith thanked the mayor for his handling of the situation so far.
“I am just going to say again, mayor, I just want to thank you again for getting in good trouble for a good cause,” Smith said.
Ward 8 Councilman David Allen expressed interest in beginning the renaming process as soon as possible.
“I want to get that started ASAP. I know it is a long process, but I want to get that started,” Allen said.
“It is a little bit of hill to climb, but we will take action once we get all the signatures on this settlement,” Pitts said.