Should They Stay, or Should They Go? Statue Politics in Shifting Societies: The Permissibility of Peacetime Removal, Alteration and Destruction of Problematic Political Monuments in the United States

Authors

• Adrienne Liebenberg Nel, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law

Abstract

The note argues that Confederate monuments in the U.S. are often protected by outdated preservationist laws that hinder efforts to remove or alter them, despite their association with systemic racism and oppression. It advocates for legal reform to allow local governments to address these problematic symbols, drawing on international examples and emphasizing the need for a balanced approach that respects history while promoting inclusivity.

Disciplines

Comparative and Foreign Law | Cultural Heritage Law | Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law | Human Rights Law | International Law | Law | Legislation | State and Local Government Law

Recommended Citation

Adrienne L. Nel, Should They Stay, or Should They Go? Statue Politics in Shifting Societies: The Permissibility of Peacetime Removal, Alteration and Destruction of Problematic Political Monuments in the United States, 4 Cardozo Int’l & Compar. L. Rev. 361 (2020).
Available at: https://larc.cardozo.yu.edu/ciclr/vol4/iss1/8