Debate over the Confederate monument in Morganton

This week The Paper is launching an extensive and balanced investigation into the debate about removing the Confederate Monument from the Historic Courthouse Square in downtown Morganton. 

Since 1918, the nine-foot-tall bronze soldier has stood tall atop a granite foundation, looking North, determination etched on his face, shaded by a slouch hat, and a bayoneted rifle at the ready. An oval “CSA” belt buckle supports ammo pouches. 

During the next three weeks, The Paper will publish an authoritative series that will feature at least a dozen stories that responsibly cover many aspects of the controversial issue – legal, historical, political, business, community – and address many common questions including:

• What can be done legally and properly?

• Who can decide and what are their positions?

• How have other communities dealt with the matter?

• What are the arguments to keep it, and what are the arguments to remove it?

The Paper’s Editor Bill Poteat and Senior Reporter Marty Queen are spearheading the project along with participation from the entire editorial staff. Invitations  to focused organizations for guest opinions on both sides of the argument have been extended for inclusion in the series. Individual requests to local officeholders for their positions have been sent.

We will report local officeholders’ responses in story and table format. We will make every effort to have them state for the record what many of them have told us confidentially. Finally, The Paper will take an unambiguous stance on the matter in a subsequent editorial.

“The Confederate Monument stands silent watch over all of us who come to work each morning in downtown Morganton,” said Poteat, in explaining the rationale for this series.

“It presides over our TGIF concerts and our Christmas parades,” the editor continued. “It is the first thing seen by many of our visitors. The question we are posing with this series is at the most basic level a simple one: Should the Monument continue to hold this place of honor in the heart of our city?”

The Paper began planning this series in March while researching and reporting both the Homelessness and fentanyl series.

When reporting on The Confederate Monument, The Paper aims to honor both heritage and history with accuracy while responsibly reflecting the diverse perspectives of Burke County residents.

The Paper is allocating significant resources to this project because, related national significance aside, the presence of the Monument is an ongoing cause of division in our community. It has dragged on for years with no resolution in sight.

Also, there is continuous deflection of definitive action by accountable officials, and, our readers tell us, it is an in-your-face, loud-and-ugly local issue begging for a reasonable and peaceful resolution. 

Our readers have been persistent in their desire for The Paper to explore the matter, regardless of the outcome.

In our next three issues, readers can expect to learn about:

• The history and legality of the monument

• Examples of other North Carolina communities that took action  

• Responsible arguments from proponents to remove it and to keep it

• Exploration of the massive confederate flags on either end of the county along I-40

• Surveys and reactions from businesses and residents

• Guest opinions and letters to the editor

The Monument has been the site of occasional community tension, significantly the June 2020 event when activists, some carrying Confederate Flags and rifles, circled the statue, and were confronted by a group of Black Lives Matter members. 

Tensions escalated dangerously. Area law enforcement performed a masterful job defusing the event, which garnered national attention.

The Confederate Monument Series begins today in both the print and digital versions.

Today’s edition will feature stories on the monument’s history and legality.

The Sept. 30 edition will report on local businesses' reaction, the story on the I-40 Confederate Flags, guest columns, and context of the slavery exhibit at the Old Courthouse.

And finally, The Paper’s Oct. 7 edition will include local officeholders’ positions, our own editorial addressing the issue, and emerging overviews. Member subscribers will receive excerpts before publication.

Allen VanNoppen is the publisher of The Paper. He may be reached at 828-445-8595 or via email allen@thepaper.media.