Juneteenth met with a march and rally, demanding a confederate statue to be removed
EASTON, Md. – In Talbot County, Juneteenth was celebrated in a different kind of way with people calling for a confederate monument to be taken down.
Voices could be heard throughout Talbot County as community members, activists, legislators and even children marched for about a mile to protest the removal of a confederate statue, a statue they say only represents hurt and pain.
Maryland Delegate Sheree Sample-Hughes says with their efforts, they hope “that we could change the thought process of others, and preferably change the hearts of many.”
A coalition was established in hopes of Moving the Talbot Confederate Monument, a monument that sits on the court house lawn across from the Frederick Douglas statue. As crowds filled the streets, protesters and coalition members tell me it’s time for something to be done. A coalition member tells me, a black coalition member said something that resonated with her. “White people put the statue up, and white people have to take it down and I took that to heart,” says Ridgely Ochs.
We’re told the coalition was established about a year ago and the coalition tell us, the statue is a continuous reminder of a painful past that no one should have to look at every single day. Saturday’s march and rally showed how many people are in support of the movement. “It’s important to see everybody out here, all races, colors and moving in the same direction,” says Devon Beck, one of the speakers at the event.
Although Talbot County council members will be the ones to make a final decision, we’re told this march and rally will hopefully reiterate just how hurtful this statue has been for many community members. “Don’t just go, ok we went to the march and we’re done, we need to keep working on it,” says Marjorie Opalski, another coalition member. “Our mantra is, we’re not going away,” says Ochs.
The coalition tells me, there’s still more to be done but today was just the start. “At the end of the day, all we can do is keep showing up and keep trying, that’s the best thing to do,” says Shelton Hawkins, a community activist. “If it doesn’t come down, it lets us know where Talbot County stands and it speaks volumes,” says Beck.
All who I spoke with say, Saturday will hopefully be the start to change in the county, and change within the state. “Change is going to come, it has to, it’s imperative and if it doesn’t we have to keep speaking up keep using our voices the best way we know how,” says Beck.
The saga of the Talbot Boys Statue has been going on for years. After multiple council votes ending in the decision to keep the statue, there’s no clear indication on when the council might take the issue up again.
