Debate over Confederate marker continues

The battle over the Confederate marker honoring General Winder in Salisbury heats up. Tuesday night at the Wicomico County Council meeting, concerned residents on both sides of the argument made their voices heard.

"The Civil War was a battle between our family, as a country. It should be remembered and it changed the world in terms of abolishing slavery," said Julie Brewington, who wants the marker to stay.

"While having been born in Wicomico County, Wicomico County didn't exist back when he was born. He was actually born somewhere out near Nanticoke. So having a marker out in the middle of Salisbury is inaccurate in that sense," says James Yamakawa, the head organizer of Showing Up Racial Justice in Salisbury.

The Wicomico County City Council declined to comment and County Executive Bob Culver was not available for an on-camera interview regarding this matter, but he says they are waiting to discuss the issue with the state of Maryland and move forward from there. Those who want the sign removed say that the history of where the marker is placed, is more important than the marker itself.

"My concern is the history that is supposed to be there. Frederick Douglass, again, speaking in 1880, two years after the courthouse was built, I mean Frederick Douglass," added Yamakawa.

But the other side thinks the opposite, that so much meaning shouldn't be placed on a sign.

"It's just an inanimate object. It isn't going to hurt anybody, it isn't doing anything to anyone, it isn't going to take away anyone's rights and people are putting symbolism on both sides," added Brewington.

Both sides have created petitions online. The petition for the removal of the marker has over 300 signatures and the petition for keeping the marker has 700.