PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release
Media Contact: David McCallister 813-778-1202 Email: floridasshe@gmail.com
LITIGATION CONTINUES DESPITE MUNN PARK MEMORIAL REMOVAL IF IT PREVAILS, MEMORIAL MAY BE RESTORED
Lakeland - Plaintiffs in the Federal Lawsuit to prevent the City of Lakeland's removal of the historic Cenotaph to the "Confederate Dead" announce today that the 11th Circuit Federal Court of Appeal in Atlanta will hear the case. The case had been previously dismissed by the Middle District of Florida based on previous cases on similar issues, however, the plaintiffs believe this case is different than those. Andy Strickland, President of Veterans Monuments of America, Inc. said "I hope the 11th Circuit listens to the voiceless sounds of the grieving families who lived through America's deadliest conflict". After the lower court dismissed the lawsuit, the City announced plans to extract the memorial from Historic Munn Park beginning on March 26th, despite several polls showing Lakeland voters and residents opposed their plan. Shortly after the decision a 305 unit apartment complex was announced near the site. The City completed the removal last week, ahead of its announced schedule. David McCallister, attorney for the plantiffs said "the Commissioners' and Staff's hasty action puts them in great jeopardy. The Court might make them put it back". The Munn Park Cenotaph was the centerpiece of the Munn Park Historic District which is on the National Historic Register. Shortly after the City voted to use red light camera funds to extract the Cenotaph from the park, the City has been moving rapidly on a gentrification plan that, according to some, will remake the character of the quaint historic downtown. McCallister concluded "in its removal, City jumped the gun on due process."
SAVE SOUTHERN HERITAGE Inc. is a not for profit corporation that educates & advocates on behalf of Southern Heritage & History. It was started in 2015 in response to the knee-jerk Anti-Southern institutionalized bullying and “Eracism” levied against the people of South Carolina by Governor Nikki Haley, after she broke all previous agreements about how South Carolina’s historical veterans and their symbols should be treated and respected. The Florida branch was activated in mid-January 2016, in response to three initiatives in the Florida Legislature that are part of a hate campaign led by Anti-American extremists, who refuse to respect the various cultures that make up the fabric of Florida’s society. Since that time, it has grown in membership and has been active in battles over American History and throughout Florida including the “We’ll Remember in November Campaign” that resulted in #heritagehater candidates to lose elections in Florida and others to win. More info: www.sshfl.org.
XXX