A bill making it more difficult to remove or relocate state monuments, including Confederate monuments, passed the legislature Tuesday.

The shooting of nine African Americans at Emanuel AME in Charleston prompted the removal of Confederate flags and monuments from public spaces throughout the south.

But several weeks before the Charleston shooting, the North Carolina Senate passed Senate Bill 22. The legislation requires approval from the North Carolina Historical Commission for any state memorial or monument to be altered, removed or relocated.

House Representative Paul Tine voted in support of the bill when it passed the House Tuesday.

“In April when this bill passed the Senate with a unanimous vote, it was looked upon as a way to ensure that we continue to honor our military and veterans through a consistent process that gives due consideration to honor those that deserve our respect and remembrance,” Tine said during debate on the House floor.  “To me, this is exactly why we should pass this bill. When we are upset we have a tendency to make broad-based knee-jerk reactions that sometimes throw the good out with the bad.”

Many legislators voiced fierce opposition to Senate Bill 22, including Orange County’s representative Graig Meyer.

“If your intention is to uphold collective memory of sacrifice, you have to recognize that part of the impact is reminding people who are descendants of slaves that they are still struggling for true freedom today,” Meyer said. “If your intention is to uphold a monument that is a symbol of values, […] then you have to recognize that those monuments are currently being used as rallying points for people whose values are the most abhorrent forms of racism that we see in society today.”

House Representative Rodney Moore, a Democrat from Mecklenburg County, says Confederate monuments represent a dark history to African Americans throughout the state.

“When we see Confederate monuments, Confederate flags, we see oppression,” Rodney told his fellow representatives. “We see the history of marginalization of an entire race of people […] we see, in our minds, symbols of hatred.”

The bill passed 70-39, largely along party lines. The governor’s office did not respond to an inquiry from WCHL as to whether the governor intends to sign the bill into law.

Related Stories
‹
Hillsborough Rally Planner Says Hate Groups Are Stealing Her Heritage
Saturday’s ‘Southern Heritage’ rally has stirred up strong emotions about the meaning and appropriateness of the Confederate flag and other memorials.
'There's a Lot of Ways To Do Good': Graig Meyer on Leaving the State Senate, and What Comes Next
Graig Meyer (D-Orange) discusses his decision to leave the State Senate at the end of March - and his new role with the NC Justice Center.
Democratic Party Vice Chair, Chapel Hill Attorney Jonah Garson Campaigns for NC Senate Appointment
Jonah Garson is launching a campaign to earn appointment and fill North Carolina Sen. Graig Meyer's District 23 seat for the rest of the year.
Graig Meyer to Resign from State Senate, Transition to North Carolina Justice Center
North Carolina Sen. Graig Meyer (D) — who represents Orange, Person and Caswell counties — is set to leave public office. The District 23 legislator shared on Facebook he will be resigning from the state Senate to accept a role leading the North Carolina Justice Center. His resignation will be effective Mar. 31. “I have […]
North Carolina Gov. Stein Cancels Medicaid Rate Cuts Amid Legal and Legislative Battles
North Carolina Democratic Gov. Josh Stein is canceling Medicaid reimbursement rate reductions he initiated over two months ago, preserving in the short term access to care for vulnerable patients.
N.C. House Committee Grills CHCCS Leaders Over 'Parents' Bill of Rights' Policies; District Maintains Compliance
CHCCS leaders appeared in Raleigh to testify to lawmakers about whether the district is following the Parents' Bill of Rights law.
In Chapel Hill, NC School Superintendent Mo Green Offers a Plan for 'Achieving Educational Excellence'
Mo Green's "Achieving Educational Excellence" plan seeks to make North Carolina schools the best in the nation by 2030.
NC Sen. Graig Meyer on State and Federal Impasses, Healthcare Premiums, And The Redistricting Battle
North Carolina District 23 Sen. and Democrat Graig Meyer joined 97.9 The Hill to discuss the ongoing impasse at the state legislature.
North Carolina Adopts New Trump-Backed US House Districts Aimed at Gaining a Republican Seat
Written by GARY D. ROBERTSON RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Republican legislative leaders completed their remapping of the state’s U.S. House districts on Wednesday, intent on picking up one more seat to help President Donald Trump’s efforts to retain GOP control of Congress in next year’s midterm elections. The new boundaries approved by the […]
North Carolina Court: GOP Can Narrow Governor’s Appointment Powers on Some Boards
Written by GARY D. ROBERTSON RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Decade-long political quarrels over legislative and executive powers in North Carolina advanced Wednesday as a state appeals court permitted the Republican-controlled General Assembly to chip away at the Democratic governor’s appointment authority for several key commissions. The judges also said lawmakers went too far remaking other boards. A […]
›