Savannah leaders want to rename Talmadge Bridge, amend Confederate monument

Following the recent violence in Charlottesville, Va., and evidence of emboldened white nationalists across the nation, City of Savannah officials say they would like to rename the Talmadge Bridge and amend the Confederate monument in Forsyth Park to address changes and changes in attitudes since the war.

“In the past week we have seen many acts of violence that have been committed in the name of hate and racism,” Mayor Eddie DeLoach said during a Thursday council meeting. “We must all denounce these forms of domestic terrorism and rally around each other in the name of peace and unity. We must not just be on the right side of history; we must write the right version of history.”

The name of the Talmadge Bridge has been a controversial topic in Savannah for several years. The name honors former Georgia Gov. Eugene Talmadge, known for his racist 1946 campaign that promised to reinstate “white only” primary elections.

While the Savannah City Council voiced support for the name change, the decision isn’t up to them. Instead, they must send a resolution to Gov. Nathan Deal and the state legislature.

But first, they want public input.

At Thursday’s meeting, the council decided a public forum should be held before a resolution is sent to Atlanta.

The Confederate monument in Forsyth Park also would be discussed at the forum, the council decided.

“In Forsyth Park, we have a beautiful monument that pays homage to the Confederate Dead,” Mayor DeLoach read. “This monument only tells a portion of our city’s unique history.”

“While many, including myself, had family members fight and die for the Confederacy, we also had citizens who fought and died to preserve the Union,” he continued. “We had citizens like James Moore Wayne who served as a United States Supreme Court Justice while his son served as an adjunct general in the Confederate Army. Our nation, our city and our families were divided. And we must embrace the whole story so we don’t repeat it.”

Mayor DeLoach said he hopes the city can find away to expand the monument to add history after the war, rather than removing it.

A historian also spoke on the monument’s “amazing story” at Thursday’s meeting. The council said they want the public to hear this story before the forum, and said they are considering posting videos on the city’s website discussing the background of the Confederate monument.

The forum is expected to take place sometime after Sept. 5.

This story was originally published August 17, 2017 at 4:06 PM with the headline "Savannah leaders want to rename Talmadge Bridge, amend Confederate monument."