Louisiana Legislature scraps Confederate holidays more than 150 years after Civil War

Louisiana will soon remove Robert E. Lee Day and Confederate Memorial Day as official state holidays after the Legislature passed a bill to scrap the commemorations more than 150 years after the Civil War.

Gov. John Bel Edwards is expected to sign Democratic New Orleans Rep. Matthew Willard's House Bill 248 into law.

"I am truly grateful that most members of the Louisiana Legislature voted with me to eliminate these two confederate holidays," Willard said Monday. "The Confederacy was one of the darkest and saddest moments in our nation's history, and we are more than 150 years removed from that four-year period.

"The entire movement was treasonous and founded upon racist ideologies and the preservation of slavery. It's beyond time to eradicate the commemoration of these vestiges of our dark past. This was the right thing to do, and I am thankful we made it happen."

Willard, who is Black, said he was shocked to learn the Confederate holidays remain on the state books when it was brought to his attention by a constituent.

"I had no clue," Willard said during committee hearings. "I actually didn't believe it. I couldn't in good conscience sit by and not try to change it."

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Willard said he is compelled to carry the bill to honor his late grandfather Elliott "Doc" Willard, a well-known New Orleans educator and Civil Rights leader who died in 2012.

"I know he would turn over in his grave if I didn't try to fix what I consider an injustice," Willard said. "I plead with you to put yourself in my shoes as a young Black man and how that would affect you.

"It's very emotional to me. I don't think we want to send that message to our children."

Judiciary Committee Chairman Randal Gaines, a Democrat from LaPlace, and New Orleans Democratic Rep. Jason Hughes said Willard's grandfather was an influence on their lives as well as a mentor.

"This bill is no public relations stunt," Hughes said. "I know it's from the heart and it's the right thing to do."

"'Doc' Willard was a mentor of mine," said Gaines, who said the bill honored Willard's grandfather's memory and legacy.

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Louisiana still celebrates Confederate holidays; that's about to end