Remove Confederate Carving On Stone Mountain: Atlanta Lawmaker

ATLANTA, GA -- The recent backlash against Confederate symbols and imagery is spilling into Georgia in a big way this week, days after violent clashes in Charlottesville, Va., left one person dead and injured several more. On Tuesday, Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams waded into the debate, saying in a blog post that the Confederate carving on Stone Mountain, the largest natural feature in the state, should be removed.

Abrams, a Democrat and candidate in the state's next gubernatorial election, said that, like Charlottesville, Georgia has come to grapple with its past. "The image carved into Stone Mountain, like Confederate monuments across this state, stand as constant reminders of racism, intolerance and division." (SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.)

Watch: Atlanta Protesters Damage Confederate Monument After Charlottesville Violence

"And while the current managers have worked hard to place Stone Mountain into historical context with an audio tour that reminds visitors of the scourge of slavery, the visible relief is a blight on Georgia and should be removed," Abrams said in a post on Medium.

"It is the time for truth and reconciliation. Now is the time to hold our leadership accountable, to take to the streets, to march, to protest," she said.

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Her call to action comes as several politicians in the state have become reflective on the tone of political debate and discussion in the country and how it has divided, rather than unified many of their constituents.

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said Monday in the wake of Charlottesville, that it's time the city take a look at its Confederate-named streets. "Over the past two days, Atlanta residents have started petitions and called for city streets bearing the name of the Confederacy or Confederate leaders to be renamed," he said in a tweet. "I will carefully consider these petitions, because symbols matter, and as those espousing hate-filled idealogies grow bolder, we must grow stronger in defense of our values."

An online petition which began hours after the Charlottesville tragedy is calling for Atlanta's Confederate Avenue to be renamed. As of midday Tuesday, the petition garnered more than 6,200 signatures out of 7,500.

The city of Stone Mountain, home of the largest piece of exposed granite on Earth, has branded itself as an outdoorsman's paradise, with camping, picnic grounds and sight-seeing tours around the national park at the ready. Regular laser shows cater to families and visitors. (In fact, on the city of Stone Mountain's website, it is difficult to find a picture of the Confederate generals carving).

Yet, park visitors can't miss the gigantic carvings -- the largest bas-relief sculpture on Earth -- of Gens. Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis and Stonewall Jackson. Given the current political climate, Abrams seems eager to defend her stance. What history-watchers know all too well though, is that the struggle is not a new one.

"We have been fighting these battles for too long," Abrams said.

Image via stonemountaincity.org