As Confederate monument controversy lingers, Randolph County residents grow impatient

During a recent meeting, several Randolph County residents urged county commissioners to make a decision concerning the fate of the Confederate monument outside the courthouse at 176 E. Salisbury St. in Asheboro.

It was the second such meeting in which community members urged county officials to move forward with a decision concerning the monument erected in 1911.

"I do not ask you to change history. I ask you to change which parts of our history receive public honor,” said Randolph County resident Bob Morrison during the Feb. 7 session. "That Confederate legacy doesn't deserve a voice of honor in 21st Century America."

Virginia Wall echoed Morrison's sentiments.

"Unfortunately, racism still does exist," Wall said, adding that the monument represents things the community should not stand for. "The Confederate traitors were fighting to keep the institution of slavery alive. Slavery was and still is morally wrong."

Dwain Roberts, who identified himself as a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, urged officials to make a decision.

"What are we waiting on?" Roberts asked. "This has been [dragged] out six months right? What are we waiting on?"

Roberts is among those who want the monument to remain where it is. In January, Roberts condemned everyone involved in the removal of other Confederate monuments.

In both January and February meetings, Commissioner Darrell Frye promised the public that county officials were actively looking for a solution.

"We have continued to consider issues related to that statue," Frye said last month. "So far, there has been no clear solution to solve this matter."

A month later Frye reiterated his sentiments saying, "We are going to deal with this issue. We are going to have a vote by this board, as it applies to that statue. That is going to happen.”

Frye made similar assurances six months ago during a community informational meeting in which organizers sought to dispel myths about the monument and the Confederacy as it pertains to Randolph County.

"I love Randolph County," Frye said at the community meeting. "It's the only home I've ever known ... we will work through this process."

On Monday, Wall said that county commissioners have a moral obligation to at least say something about the monument.

"We should not have a Confederate monument sitting on the front lawn of our government," Wall said. "As our elected leaders you do have the authority and the duty to ack as our moral compass."

Follow Dean-Paul Stephens on Twitter @DeanPEStephens. If you have tips, send an email to dstephens@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Courier-Tribune: Randolph residents are ready for solution to monument controversy