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Lexington Mayor Seeks to Relocate Confederate Statues

Daderot, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain (cropped)// Bedford, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain (cropped)

Democratic Lexington Mayor Jim Gray says he is taking steps to remove confederate statues in the city.

Gray tweeted on Saturday that his decision was accelerated in response to the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. He said he had intended to make the announcement later in the week. 

Gray will ask on Tuesday the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council to petition to the Kentucky Military Heritage Commission to have statues in the city relocated. The commission oversees military heritage buildings, monuments and other resources.

Gray specifically pointed to Confederate statues of John C. Breckinridge and John Hunt Morgan on the lawn of the former courthouse. The site will soon be a new visitors center.

The Lexington Herald Leader reported in 2016 that Gray had then decided to keep the statues but wanted to add historical context to them.

Matt Markgraf joined the WKMS team as a student in January 2007. He's served in a variety of roles over the years: as News Director March 2016-September 2019 and previously as the New Media & Promotions Coordinator beginning in 2011. Prior to that, he was a graduate and undergraduate assistant. He is currently the host of the international music show Imported on Sunday nights at 10 p.m.
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