Geraldine Mellon (Hazel) - September 16, 2020

To the editor:

Robert E. Lee on the square was quaint to me when I came here 20-odd years ago. I had no quarrel with him. Recently after taking off my blinders of white privilege, I no longer consider him quaint. He represents the faction bent upon ripping the nation apart in the name of “states rights,” the nefarious “rights” to grow rich upon the backs of enslaved human beings.

I did not bring hate to Murray. It has been here all along white-washed by artificial history.

Murray is a wonderful, loving community. There’s no denying that. But this statue business has revealed old ideas and thoughts best acknowledged and evaluated honestly before once more being relegated to the past.

Geraldine Mellon

Hazel

The foregoing was a "Letter to the Editor" submitted to and printed by the Murray Ledger & Times. The entry has not been edited and is presented as it was printed on the date listed with the entry.

From June 5, 2020, through Sept. 30, 2021, the Murray Ledger & Times printed 50 "Letters to the Editor" related to Murray's Confederate monument. Those 50 letters were written by 38 different people; and of those individuals, 22 were in favor of relocating the monument, 11 wrote in support of it remaining in its present location and five did not take a clear stance on either side. The letter above is part of a collection curated by The Sentinel to provide an overview of the sentiments expressed.