News

Actions

Gov Hogan says Taney statue should be removed

Posted at 3:11 PM, Aug 15, 2017
and last updated 2017-08-16 07:31:30-04

Gov. Larry Hogan issues a statement Tuesday afternoon regarding the Justice Roger B. Taney statue located on the grounds of the Maryland State House:

"As I said at my inauguration, Maryland has always been a state of middle temperament, which is a guiding principle of our administration. While we cannot hide from our history – nor should we – the time has come to make clear the difference between properly acknowledging our past and glorifying the darkest chapters of our history. With that in mind, I believe removing the Justice Roger B. Taney statue from the State House grounds is the right thing to do, and we will ask the State House Trust to take that action immediately."

In response to the recent racially charged violence, Cecil County resident Gary Gleason said, "I think we all need to stop the hate and we all need to start loving each other instead of hating each other. I think that's the bottom line and where it starts."

RELATED: Crews remove Confederate monuments in Baltimore

Cities and counties across the nation including Baltimore, are considering removing their Confederate monuments and statues. It's something many are behind.

"I can remember when the state of Alabama when we had Martin Luther King for the very first time, the calendar in Alabama still said Robert E. Lee Day," said Harford County resident, Ruth Flanders.  "The monuments are a part of our history but we cannot allow hatred to to keep going.  It is wrong."

Governor Hogan is working with the State House Trust which will decide what happens to the Taney statue.