Statue of Andrew Jackson (Jackson, Mississippi)
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 Interactive map of Statue of Andrew Jackson | |
| Location | Jackson, Mississippi |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 32°17′52.2″N 90°10′58.6″W / 32.297833°N 90.182944°W |
| Dedicated to | Andrew Jackson |
A bronze statue of Andrew Jackson is located outside the City Hall of Jackson, Mississippi, United States. It was sculpted by Katherine Rhymes Speed, who was the widow of the former mayor Leland Speed, and dedicated in 1972[1]
In 2020 during a period of racial unrest, Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba requested that the City Council vote to remove the statue, which they did. Despite that the statue remains and no progress to remove it has occurred.[2][3]
History
[edit]Jackson, Mississippi, was founded in 1821 and named after Jackson for his victory at the recent Battle of New Orleans.[1]
The statue was commissioned by the Keep Jackson Beautiful non-profit for the Josh Halbert Gardens park that the non-profit had just created. The statue was sculpted by Katherine Rhymes Speed, an amateur sculptress and the widow of the city's former Mayor and was dedicated in 1972.[4][1]
In 2020 following the death of George Floyd racial unrest broke out across much of the United States and many monuments and memorials were removed or destroyed. Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba would ask the City Council to authorize him to remove the statue. The City Council voted 5–1 to remove the statue; the sole vote against came from a White councilor claiming to respect history.[5] Lumumba would say that removal of the statue helps to divorce the city's name from Andrew Jackson, and that he planned to reclaim to name which he said means "God has shown favor".[6]
Following the vote for removal it was discovered that under the Antiquities Law of Mississippi the Mississippi Department of Archives and History's Board of Trustees would need to review the statue and then would vote on if a Permit to remove it will be given.[7] The planning director at the time of the 2020 vote later left and since then no notice of intent has been forwarded to the MDAH, with later directors prioritized other issues.[8] Plans for a removal date and where to send the statue have not occurred as of 2024.[3] The cost of removal is estimated to be more than $1 million.[3]
Later after Mayor Lumumba and a council member who voted on the statue were convicted of federal bribery, the removal of the statue was brought up by supporters of Lumumba to argue for his legacy.[9]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "Focused on Mississippi: Origins of the Andrew Jackson statue". WJTV. July 13, 2020. Archived from the original on June 22, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- ↑ Vicory, Justin. "Jackson City Council votes to remove Andrew Jackson statue". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
- 1 2 3 Muhammad, Shaunicy (June 19, 2024). "Fate of Capital City's Andrew Jackson Statue Still Undecided". Mississippi Free Press. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- ↑ Drape, Charlie. "Jackson council voted to remove the Andrew Jackson statue in 2020. Why is it still standing?". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- ↑ Vicory, Justin. "Jackson City Council votes to remove Andrew Jackson statue". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- ↑ Dixon, Justin (July 8, 2020). "Jackson Mayor wants to reclaim the city's name". www.wlbt.com. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
- ↑ Drape, Charlie. "Jackson council voted to remove the Andrew Jackson statue in 2020. Why is it still standing?". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- ↑ Drape, Charlie. "Jackson council voted to remove the Andrew Jackson statue in 2020. Why is it still standing?". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved September 18, 2026.
- ↑ Service, Jackson Advocate News (July 14, 2026). "Black lawyers group statement on Chokwe Antar Lumumba's plea deal". Jackson Advocate. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
