Leaders of North Carolina legislature stand by law that protects Confederate monuments

RALEIGH -- House Democrats have filed a bill to repeal a 2015 law that restricts the removal of Confederate and other monuments on public property, but legislative leaders are indicating they’re reluctant to revisit the controversial issue.

House Bill 10 was filed Wednesday by Democratic Reps. Pricey Harrison of Greensboro, Evelyn Terry of Winston-Salem, Marcia Morey of Durham, and Kelly Alexander of Charlotte. It would repeal the provisions in a 2015 law that bans state agencies and local governments from taking down any “object of remembrance” on public property that “commemorates an event, a person, or military service that is part of North Carolina’s history.” That effectively means legislation must be passed in order to remove or relocate Confederate monuments.

Asked about the bill Wednesday, House Speaker Tim Moore said he sees no need to change the law now.

“We’ve already passed the law — at this point it’s a matter of enforcement of the law, and if folks want to challenge that and have questions, that’s where the courts come in,” he said.

Read more here: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article225316435.html