General A.P. Stewart
photo by Mark Herndon
Officials said the Prayer-Candlelight Vigil for the removal of the Confederate Monument at the Hamilton County Courthouse sponsored by the Chattanooga Hamilton County chapter of the NAACP scheduled for Saturday will be delayed to another date.
Dr. Elenora Woods, president, said, "We feel accountable to both the public and the NAACP to ensure that the public safety is secure and properly managed.
Also, the timing of the event conflicts with another major event, the Ironman World Championship, which requires a great deal of manpower from the Chattanooga Police Department and the Hamilton County Sheriff Department to manage.
"The tentative rescheduled date for the Prayer-Candle Light Vigil is set for Sept. 30. The vigil will begin with a march at Market and MLK and will end at 625 Georgia Ave. where the Confederate monument of Alexander P. Stewart is located.
"Mr. Stewart was a traitor and committed treason against the United States of America. He was a graduate of West Point and served in the United States Army. When Abraham Lincoln ordered the states to free the slaves, he joined the Confederate Army and waged war against the United States (Union) to give States the rights to preserve slavery. Not only was he a traitor to the United States and committed treason, Alexander P. Stewart had a very low regard for African Americans and believed that African Americans were inferior to white men. Therefore, he was also a bigot and a white supremacist. Before he passed away, Mr. Stewart joined the Jehovah Witness Faith. Because he was a traitor of the United States and committed treason his bust should be removed from the courthouse. A more appropriate place for his bust would be in a museum or a Confederate cemetery or a military park. Replace his bust with more honorable soldiers, like the fallen soldiers that died during the terrorist attack in Chattanooga.
"Hatred, bigotry, and white supremacy should not have a place in Chattanooga. Our courthouses and state capitols are places where American dreams and ideal are being heard and realized. When we enter the doors of our courthouses liberty and justice is expected to be served. Alexander P. Stewart did not believe that African Americans deserved liberty, justice or freedom. It is an oxymoron to have him publicly displayed at the front door of the courthouse.
"Let us join together and take down these symbols of white supremacy that were placed during the Jim Crow Era and Civil Rights Movement to intended to intimidate African Americans seeking Justice and Equality.
"This will be a peaceful event, agitators are not welcomed. If your church, group or organization would like to participate in the march log onto our website at NAACPChattanooga.org. Bring signs supporting better schools, better housing, economic justice, equality for all, and to support DACA."
"Please log onto NAACPChattanooga.org and sign the petition to remove the confederate monument of Alexander P. Stewart."
Those taking part in the Sept. 30 event are asked to a Assemble at the corner of Market and MLK at 5 p.m.