Governor Calls Public Hearings On African American Monument

Governor Pat McCrory is inviting the public to four public hearings to get feedback on a monument at the State Capital to commemorate the contributions of African Americans in North Carolina.

“I can’t think of a more appropriate way to recognize the contributions of African Americans to North Carolina’s history than a monument at the State Capitol,” McCrory said.

The public hearings will be held at four different locations across the state.

“I encourage North Carolinians to actively participate in dialogue about key considerations and thematic elements for this important monument,” McCrory said.

For 25 years the state was under a moratorium on create more statues in the State Capital, but the moratorium was lifted to create this monument.

The issue of race on campus came to the forefront this summer, when the UNC Board of Trustees agreed to rename Saunders Hall to Carolina Hall.

There have been a number of protests on campus in recent months, calling for racial equality and the elimination of Silent Sam.

• March 1 at the International Civil Rights Center and Museum, 134 South Elm Street in Greensboro;
• March 8 at the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American + Culture, 551 South Tryon Street in Charlotte;
• March 22 at the Braswell Memorial Library, 727 North Grace Street in Rocky Mount;
• March 29, at the Shaw Auditorium at Fayetteville State University, 1200 Murchison Road in Fayetteville.