Charleston Settles Lawsuit Over Calhoun Statue Removal

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Charleston Settles Lawsuit Over Calhoun Statue Removal

City to Transfer Monument to Preservation Society for Relocation

Charleston has reached a settlement with the American Heritage Association regarding the removal of the John C. Calhoun statue from Marion Square in 2020.

The city will transfer the statue to the newly formed Calhoun Monument Preservation Society, which plans to re-erect it in the Lowcountry.

Brett Barry, president of the American Heritage Association, stated, "America's historical landscape is being restored after the events of 2020."

The statue, depicting John C. Calhoun, a former Vice President and proponent of slavery, was removed following nationwide protests over racial injustice.

Charleston City Council voted unanimously for its removal, and it took crews over 17 hours to dismantle the monument.

The statue had stood in Marion Square for more than a century, near the historic Mother Emanuel AME Church, site of a tragic hate crime in 2015.

In 2023, the American Heritage Association sued the city, arguing the removal violated the Heritage Act, which protects certain state monuments.

As part of the settlement, the city will hand over the statue to the Calhoun Monument Preservation Society.

Cal Stephens, president of the society, announced plans to develop a strategy for re-erecting the monument locally for public viewing.

Details on the timeline and new location for the statue's display have not been disclosed.

Initial plans to relocate the statue to museums in Charleston or California did not materialize.

The 100-foot granite base of the original monument was destroyed during its removal, necessitating the construction of a new base at the statue's future site.

The settlement marks a significant development in the ongoing debate over historical monuments and their place in public spaces.

Community reactions are mixed, reflecting the complex history and sentiments associated with such monuments.

As the Calhoun Monument Preservation Society moves forward, further discussions are expected regarding the statue's future and its role in the community.