Battle Over Tampa’s Confederate Memorial Wages On

TAMPA, FL — Hillsborough Commissioner Les Miller isn't giving up without a fight. His office confirmed Thursday Miller's plans to float a new motion calling for the removal of the Confederate memorial outside the county’s courthouse in downtown Tampa. The topic is expected to be addressed when the board meets on July 19.

Miller’s initial attempt to have the memorial taken down lost in a 4-3 vote on June 21. The memorial has stood on county property since it was donated by the Daughters of the Confederacy in 1911. Miller, however, has said the time has come to remove it. Commissioners Al Higginbotham and Pat Kemp agreed with Miller during the June vote. The other four board members, however, thought the historic structure should remain in place. They also voted to have a "diversity mural" painted behind the memorial.

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The 4-3 vote occurred after a contentious three-hour meeting during which residents packed the board’s chambers. Several people held up signs during that meeting that proclaimed, “Americans build monuments we don’t remove them!”

Commission Chairman Stacy White, who voted in favor of keeping the monument, acknowledged in June the issue was a contentious one. He, however, implored those gathered to have a “civil discourse.”

That’s something Miller intends to attempt again on July 19.

Miller told WFLA he’s received a “huge groundswell” of support for the monument’s removal since the original vote. His new motion will request the county give the monument back to the Daughters of the Confederacy, the station reported.

Photo of Commissioner Les Miller via the Hillsborough County website