Monument
FAIRVIEW CONFEDERATE MONUMENT
In 1904, a Confederate monument was erected in Fairview Cemetery in Liberty. The purpose of such monuments, hundreds of which were built during that time period, was to remind African-Americans of their subordinate position in the community and remind them of the constant threat of physical harm if they failed to act accordingly. This twenty-foot Confederate monument has stood for 116 years, looming over a separate portion of the cemetery where 700 African-Americans were buried, most without markers.
We believe the impact today on people whose ancestors were enslaved for generations needs to be recognized and addressed. This post-traumatic effect is partially the result of the continuing influence of the Confederacy’s commitment to white supremacy as expressed by permanent symbols such as this monument. Its presence makes racial reconciliation much more difficult.
The removal and relocation of the monument need not disturb or desecrate existing graves. Further, gravesites that are determined to belong to individuals should be memorialized.
We will continue to work with the Liberty City Council to remove and relocate the monument.
FAQS
Why should the Confederate monument be removed from the Fairview Cemetery?It reflects values (racial subordination and segregation) that are likely not held by the overwhelming majority of our community’s citizens. Those values cause deep pain and division among Liberty’s citizens.
It was built to create fear in the minds of African Americans and encourage racial subordination and segregation. Ownership of the property (both block 174 and the monument) is unclear. In Missouri cemeteries, the purchaser of burial plots buys the right to inter bodies but does not own the land in the typical sense of owning real estate. The land remains with the cemetery owner. The ownership of block 174 is in question and under review by the city’s attorney and the court. Regardless of the outcome of that particular question, we believe the city has both a moral responsibility to remove the monument and the legal basis on which to do so.
What is on the monument?The monument is twenty feet tall. On the top of the monument is a soldier with a rifle. When the monument was installed, it was consistently referred to in documents and newspaper articles as a Confederate monument. The soldier was intended to be a Confederate soldier, even if a similar soldier was used in settings that celebrate union veterans.
There are four sides of the monument. The engravings on those four sides follow.
South: “In God We Trust” (A plaque listing the names of some persons apparently buried in block 174 was added to this side on November 1, 2020, over 116 years after the monument was erected.)
East: A Confederate battle flag is at the top. “Erected in honor of the Confederate soldiers of Clay County MO 1904”
North: “This monument erected through the liberality of the citizens of Clay County was conceived and promoted by Philip W. Reddish, Co. C. 2nd MO Gen. Forrest Cavalry” (General Forrest was widely known as a pre-war slave trader, the general whose troops massacred more than 100 black union troops at Fort Pillow, and the first leader of the Ku Klux Klan after the war.)
West: “In memory of the daughters of the Confederacy of Clay County MO”
What values does it represent? What message does it send?According to speeches and writings by their leaders, by the documents of secession and Article IV of the constitution of the Confederacy, the Confederate states seceded from the union to maintain the institution of slavery. In addition, their documents state clearly that slavery was built upon a foundation of white superiority. White superiority and slavery do not reflect the values held by most current day Liberty residents. This 20-foot monument sends messages of racial subordination and segregation very clearly. And African American persons in our community have received those messages and felt the intended feelings of intimidation and racial subordination for 116 years.
Why was it erected?We believe the intent of erecting the Confederate monument in the cemetery was to terrorize African Americans in perpetuity. Hundreds of such monuments were erected around the country between 1900 and 1920. During this era of Jim Crow laws and lynchings (One occurred on the courthouse steps in Liberty in 1900 and one in Excelsior Springs in 1925.), these monuments were an essential part of reinforcing the “lesser than” status of Black Americans and to encourage them to “stay in their place.” This monument has contributed to racial subordination and segregation in Liberty for more than a century.
Why is it different than other statues of people who held slaves or held racist views (George Washington, for example)?There are statues and/or markers in Liberty of people (such as George Washington) who enslaved others or may have held racist views. The intent of erecting those statues or markers was not to send messages of racial subordination to African American persons in Liberty. None of the people celebrated by those statues advocated for the establishment of a separate nation/state that formally incorporated slavery. None of the people celebrated by those statues committed treason against the United States by fighting a war against the United States to advance the cause of white superiority and the institution of slavery. None of the people celebrated by those statues erected monuments in support of racial subordination and segregation.
Who owns the ground?Block 174 was purchased for $1 in 1900 by William J. Courtney, a proxy for the United Confederate Veterans. Apparently, the UCV gave title to the Sons of Confederate Veterans when UCV ceased to exist. The Sons of the Confederacy claims ownership of the ground in block 174 and filed a Quit Claim deed in September 2020. This may have been a preemptive move that indicates that they are doubtful about their ownership of the ground. It seems clear that they own the rights to interment, but the cemetery may still own the land. At the very least, it seems that the title to the land is cloudy. Also, Missouri cemetery law provides that the owner of cemetery lots is entitled only to inter bodies and memorialize those so buried. It does not allow for the celebration of a cause in lieu of memorializing the deceased. Not a single person buried in Fairview Cemetery was memorialized on the monument until November 2020.
While it may be determined that Sons of the Confederacy own the ground, the fact that block 174 is in a city-owned cemetery means that most people assume some city involvement (at least in terms of guidelines) in what can be built in the cemetery. That being the case, many people assume the city approves having this monument (and its implicit messages of racial subordination and segregation) on the highest point in the cemetery.
If it is determined that the city does not own block 174, what other options might the city have to remove the monument?The city has the authority to change the rules and regulations of the cemetery to preclude monuments and markers such as this and that those rules and regulations can be enforced on all property owners in the cemetery. Here are the first two paragraphs from the introduction to the city’s cemetery rules and regulations:
The purpose of these rules and regulations is to provide for the orderly operation of all city-owned cemeteries. They will also serve as a guideline to ensure the beauty, peacefulness, and solemnness to the areas that serve as a tribute for loved ones laid here to rest.
The following rules and regulations may be amended, altered, modified or corrected at any time by the City of Liberty. All owners and holders of property shall be required to comply with the rules and regulations as may be in effect at all times.
Under the city’s rules, the council has the power to change the rules and regulations of city-owned cemeteries and to enforce them across the board.
Is the monument a grave marker?The group that argues to keep the monument claims it is a grave marker and has little to do with the Confederacy. However, when the monument was purchased, erected and celebrated in 1904, it was consistently referred to as a Confederate monument. For 116 years, the monument had none of the markings of a typical grave marker. It did not refer to any individual or group buried in the cemetery. The only names on the monument were Philip Reddish, the promoter who is buried in Barry Cemetery, and [Nathan Bedford] Forrest, who was a Confederate general from Tennessee. It also made no reference to anyone who may be buried in block 174. On November 1, 2020, a marker was placed on the monument listing names of persons who are apparently buried in block 174. The city was not informed of this action, and this was the first attempt in 116 years to make the monument look like a grave marker.
Missouri statute 214.030 indicates that the sole purpose of cemetery plots is for interment and memorializing those who are interred. That would seem to preclude making political statements through statuary. The fact that no person buried in Block 174 was mentioned on the monument until November 1, 2020 would indicate that the purpose of the monument was not to memorialize those persons.
Are there bodies buried in block 174? Does the monument honor ancestors of those who argue to keep it?Records seem to indicate that there are bodies buried in block 174, some related to the Civil War and some not. It seems clear that some of the bodies in block 174 are unknown. Until November 1, 2020, there was no grave marker on the Block that refers to any of these persons. And there was originally no mention on the monument of individual bodies buried in block 174.
Is it historical? Is it educational?The inscriptions on the monument do not provide any historical context for the war, the Confederacy, the persons buried in block 174, the references to daughters of the Confederacy or any other historical fact or circumstance. It does not mark a location that has any historical significance. All inscriptions on the monument are listed above. There are no other markers in block 174 that would provide any context for this monument or make any attempt to educate the public.
What might be a solution?Clay Countians for Inclusion has suggested that the monument be moved to a more appropriate location. We have offered to provide up to $10,000 to assist with the relocation.
Once the monument is removed, the group that claims ownership of block 174 could add markers that memorialize the people buried in block 174 and other Confederate veterans buried in the cemetery if they so choose. They could also add a marker for historical and educational purposes, all within cemetery guidelines.
Can the city force the removal of the monument?Yes.
First, the city’s cemetery regulations allow the city to change the regulations at any time and to apply those regulations to all property in the cemetery.
From the city’s cemetery rules and regulations: “The following rules and regulations may be amended, altered, modified or corrected at any time by the City of Liberty. All owners and holders of property shall be required to comply with the rules and regulations as may be in effect at all times.”
Second, the city enforces city codes on private property as a matter of course. Consider building codes, zoning regulations, health and safety codes.
Also, keep in mind that purchasing property in a cemetery only includes the right to inter bodies and to memorialize those persons who have been interred. It does not include the right to install celebrations of causes (good or bad), political messages, etc.
Should the city force the removal of the monument?Yes.
The purpose of the monument, like hundreds of others built during that time, was to intimidate Black citizens. It intentionally sends a message of hate.
The monument is, first and foremost, a celebration of the Confederacy. The Confederacy was, according to the founders and elected leaders of the time and its constitution, created for the purpose of maintaining the institution of slavery. Slavery was built on a foundation of white superiority and segregation of the races. These values, racial subordination and segregation, do not represent the values of our community. A monument that celebrates those values should not be allowed to stand in a city-owned cemetery.
Letter to the Editor
The dispute over the Confederate monument in Fairview Cemetery has continued for more than a year. The voices in favor of keeping the monument on block 174 attempt to equate the Confederate monument with the recently approved development of the Liberty African American Legacy Memorial which is also in the cemetery. They say, “If the African American Legacy Memorial is built, then, in fairness, the Confederate monument should be allowed to continue to stand.” This equates the two installations. It is a false equivalency — they are not equal.
The purpose of the Liberty African American Legacy Memorial is to memorialize the people who were buried in the east section of the cemetery, most of whom had no markers and many of the names were lost. In many cases, those buried in that section of the cemetery have lain in unmarked graves for more than a century.
The same could be said for those who are buried in block 174. From the installation of the monument in 1904 until the fall of 2020, there was no marker on block 174 that memorialized, by name, any person buried there. Those people, like all others in the cemetery, should be remembered for having lived and died in our community.
So, what is the difference between the two areas of the cemetery? A 20-foot monument that celebrates the Confederacy, a sovereign country founded on the premise that Black Americans were inferior to white Americans, stands tall on block 174. In his “Cornerstone” speech of March 1861, Vice President of the Confederacy Alexander Stephens said without equivocation or apology: “…its [the Confederacy] foundations are laid, its corner-stone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man. …”
Removal of this celebration of white superiority would not need to eliminate memorialization of the those buried in block 174 nor disturb any graves there. In fact, a new memorial consisting of the names of those known to be buried in block 174 would remember them without the stain of the Confederacy on their lives and memories. It is likely that a commitment to white superiority did not define their lives.
The monument that celebrates the Confederacy does not stand for the values of Liberty’s citizens and should be replaced with a marker that simply remembers the lives of those buried there, as the Legacy Memorial will do for African Americans.