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Ga. Lawmaker Authors Bills To Abolish Confederate Monuments In Peach State

March 1st, 2021

Georgia Rep. Shelly Hutchinson joins “Closer Look” to discuss the 2021 legislative session and what’s next for House Bills 237 and 238.

Georgia Rep. Shelly Hutchinson says taxpayer dollars should not be used to fund and upkeep Confederate monuments on public property.

“The reason why the Confederate Army was fighting was to keep slavery, to keep human beings in bondage,” said Hutchinson, who represents District 107. “They were giving their lives for this because they wanted to keep slavery that bad.”

Hutchinson, who authored House Bills 237 and 238, was a guest on Monday’s edition of “Closer Look.”

During her conversation with show host Rose Scott, Hutchinson explained why she filed the bills and shared what she feels needs to happen to the nation’s largest controversial Confederate memorial at Stone Mountain Park.

The lawmaker also expressed that the United States is a divided country that needs to heal and for healing to happen, reconciliation has to take place with the removal and banning of Confederate monuments.

“If everyone insists to keep these monuments up, they send the wrong message to people, particularly to kids,” said Hutchinson. “That’s what I’m worried about. There’s no healing that takes place there, and that means you are OK with where we are at as a country.”

Hutchinson, who introduced a similar bill to House Bill 237 during the 2020 Georgia Legislative Session, says the bills she authored may not pass this year, but she will continue to push for the laws to change.

“I knew this was for the long haul, and I know the dynamics of where we are in the Legislature right now; this type of bill would not pass anyway,” said Hutchinson. “We just don’t have the support for it. But the pendulum always swings.”

To listen to the full conversation, click the audio player above.