Commissioners vote to relocate Confederate statue outside Iredell County courthouse

IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. — Commissioners in Iredell County voted Tuesday night to relocate a Confederate statue that sits in front of the courthouse.

Protesters pushed for the removal of the 114-year-old memorial for months.

The board chair presented the resolution, saying he now understands for many African Americans the statue is a reminder of policies of oppression rooted in slavery.

Commissioners voted 4 to 1 to move it.

Storm Onole organized more than 250 days of protests to have the monument removed.

Tuesday night’s vote was unexpected.

“Most of us were, just, kind of stunned,” Onole said. “A few people thought were joking.”

Her group said counter protestors who were angry about the decision came to their gathering.

One threw a noose from a car at them.

The county wants to partner with the city of Statesville and a local group to relocate the statue.

Confederate statue removed from downtown Salisbury Confederate statue removed from downtown Salisbury

Cox Media Group