EASTON, Md.- Protests over the death of George Floyd are reigniting discussion over the Talbot Boys monument that sits outside the Talbot County Courthouse in Easton. Erected in the early 1900's, some are calling for the monument's removal due to its ties to the Confederacy. Others argue otherwise. Now, county leaders are now considering what to do next with the landmark.
"Nobody's sitting back on this. This is definitely a time for change in my opinion," Talbot County Councilman Frank Divilio said in a meeting last week.
Meanwhile, the debate is back on in the county. Some like Patrick Firth say the monument is a painful, unnecessary reminder of history that does not represent the county any longer.
"We're talking about the entire Confederate monument. The pedestal as well as the statue," Firth said. "Nobody is saying it shouldn't go to a cemetery or a museum. What we're saying is that it has no place on the grounds of a courthouse."
His words were mirrored by signs across the street that read "It is not heritage" and "Black Lives Matter.
In a statement released earlier in the week, the Talbot Branch of the NAACP agreed - the monument must go.
But people like Cathy Bowrey say, with its pain, the monument teaches a valuable lesson. She argues by removing it, history and the difference between right and wrong are no longer.
"If we start removing these statues, there's history being lost," Bowrey said. "If we are going to pick and choose, let's choose all and get rid of all history that's out there whether it be white, black, whatever."
In 2015, Talbot County Council unanimously voted against removing the statue. Since then, Council President Corey Pack has said he is seriously considering reversing that decision.
There is currently no word of any official action to remove the monument.
