Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot wants the “Talbot Boys” statue honoring Confederate soldiers removed from the Talbot courthouse grounds.
A peaceful Saturday protest in downtown Easton for racial justice and against police brutality against people of color included calls for the statue’s removal. Following the protest, demonstrators left their signs at the base of the monument.
Franchot spoke Tuesday morning with The Spy to discuss his position on the statue’s removal.
Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot
“The Talbot Boys Monument needs to be removed because it was not put up as a memorial to Marylanders who fought for the Confederacy, it was put up in 1916 at the height of the Jim Crow laws and it’s very clearly a message to African-American folks — on taxpayer property, which is the courthouse — that if you want equal justice you shouldn’t come because we’re glamorizing these Confederate soldiers.
“It used to be kind of benignly accepted as oh, well, isn’t it educational, isn’t it historical in nature?” he said. “No, it isn’t. It’s a testimony to a period of time which was horrible for African-Americans which was the Jim Crow days when their participation, their voting was suppressed and where they didn’t have equal justice under the law like other Americans.
“This statue unfortunately is a neon message to them: Don’t come to this courthouse, this publicly funded, taxpayer-funded courthouse, for equal justice because you’re not going to get it.”
Citing the protests against police brutality and for racial justice following the death of George Floyd, Franchot said it was an appropriate time to again ask for the statue’s removal.
“These issues are always kind of radioactive, controversial, but if Virginia, with its history … can be in the process of removing the Confederate general statues along Monument Avenue down in Richmond, certainly Easton or Talbot County can reconsider removing this statue again from in front of the courthouse.
“Hopefully, there will be a different response than last time.”
The Talbot County Council last rejected calls for the removal of the Confederate statue in 2016 and 2017. Current council members Corey Pack, Chuck Callahan, and Laura Price were among the five council members who unanimously voted then against removing the statue.
“I am completely impressed with the demonstrations around the country. Most of them are absolutely peace-loving, Constitutional protests about police brutality,” he said. “Anyone who has seen that video, that 8-minute video of George Floyd being suffocated to death by the policeman with spectators all around saying ‘stop it, you’re killing him’ and he just went ahead and killed the individual right there on camera.
“Obviously, the demonstrations have been widespread, but what’s impressed me is that in rural, all-white areas of the country, traditionally Trump country, for example as far as the voting patterns, there are demonstrations asking for a stop to police brutality.
“I think it’s a reawakening of the country to the injustices that a lot of our citizens face. I hope that the county council … will act quickly and get it removed from public property.”
Asked what he could do as comptroller to ensure the statue’s removal, Franchot said speaking out on the issue was the key.
“I really think with most Americans, and most Marylanders, and most residents of the Eastern Shore, to just remind people ‘can we please do the right thing?’ Given the situation, could we please do the right thing and remove this?
“We know that it doesn’t have anything to do with history or with education or with memorializing brave, young Marylanders who may have erroneously fought for the South in the Confederate War. No, this is part of a domination … of African-Americans for decades and decades following the Civil War. And the message couldn’t be clearer: Don’t come to our courthouse thinking you’re going to be treated equally. You’re not going to be. That’s the message.
“So let’s remove that to the extent we can taking advantage of the change in the nationwide temperament and work together. If we just kind of nudge people in the right direction, you’ll see change because most people are wonderful, compassionate, and generous and empathetic folks.
“Finally, we now as a country are facing some of the racial injustices we know have always existed. And here’s a chance in a small way to remove a blemish, something that I would call a disgrace on one of my favorite parts of the state, Talbot County…. I love the Shore, but that statue’s gotta go.”
“When I went to school, I was taught that the Civil War was not about slavery, it was about states’ rights. No, it wasn’t about states’ rights, it was all about slavery…. (E)verybody now knows that and we simply have to face up to the injustice we had in our country and realize that after the Civil War Reconstruction was set up to continue to punish and dominate African-Americans, particularly in the South, not allowing them to vote.
“Then we have this history of vigilantism and lynchings. A few years after the Talbot Boys statue was put up in front of the courthouse, I think it was 1921, 300 African-Americans were massacred in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in a race riot and not a single person was ever arrested or prosecuted for that kind of behavior and it happened all over the country.”
In a Monday Facebook post, Franchot wrote:
“Let’s be clear: The Talbot Boys Monument has no value — historical, educational or otherwise. It was, and is, nothing more than propaganda designed to romanticize white supremacy and legitimize an act of treason against the United States.
“At a time when people of color are more vulnerable to harassment, abuse, economic discrimination, violence and murder simply because of the color of their skin, there is just no place in our society — and certainly not within our taxpayer-funded centers of justice — for a monument that glorifies and celebrates the very worst elements of our past.”
Fred Wyman says
I completely agree with the sentiments expressed by Peter Franchot and encourage the Talbot County Council to remove the the Talbot Boys statue. It has no place in Easton Md.
I will vote against any Talbot County Council member who does not support the removal of this racist symbol from in front of the Towns courthouse.
The time is long over due for this to happen.
Fred Wyman
Vickie Wilson says
Thank you, Mr. Franchot, for speaking out.
Alan Boisvert says
I trust the Talbot County Council will do the right thing and remove this hideous reminder of our past. Lets move Talbot county forward instead of maintaining a relic of the painful and inhumane past.
Linda Baker says
Mr Franchot, we have already been thru this twice before and both times it’s been voted on to remain. Why does history offend so many? We need to remember and learn from history. That’s our problem now, everyone has their own idea what it’s all about, don’t be afraid of it, educate yourself. You cannot erase the Civil War, it happened! And, positive reactions came from it. Blacks fought in the civil war as well as white. Frederick Douglass, another well known figure of the civil war is placed right across from the Talbot Boys statue. Both sides of history as you face our beautiful courthouse. Stop stirring the pot about the Jim Crowe agenda. This is an historical statue of the local young men from Talbot County that fought in that war, not unlike WWII, Korean war, and Vietnam war memorials. Leave their memorial be.
John Barren says
I agree. Good or bad it is
Maryland’s history. Let’s learn from it and not sweep it under the rug like it never happened. Those who forget the mistakes of the past are bound to repeat them.
Arthur Jones says
His ignorance of history in general and of the eastern shore in particular makes any discussion with him an exercise in futility.
Brittany Sisitsky says
Thank you! Talbot county council must remove this statue! It’s the will of the people who live here!
Linda Baker says
No, not for all. Please don’t speak for everyone, just yourself.
Bruce Williams says
IF you want to honor the dead without offending anyone put those statues in cemeteries where fallen confederates lie.
Meg Olmert says
There’s another way to handle this. Change the plaque to tell the true story. Removing all signs of the bad old days erases them. They need to be remembered and we need those reminders. And some are really beautiful art which deserves to represent the truth.
William Dudley says
This replies to Peter Franchot’s angry letter regarding the “Talbot Boys” statue in front of the Talbot County Court House. He did not mention there is also a heroic atatute in front of the Court house commemorating the life and words of Frerderick Douglas, a former slave and eloquent abolitionist. Is this not a notable and balanced response to the homely statue on the other side of the court house sidwalk honoring threee Confederate soldiera of another era? I recognize that this is a trend that has captured the imaginations of those who would like to erase memories of the past. But, that is a slippery slope. I note also, the recent beheadings of statues of Columbus in Boston and Richmond, I suppose because of the desire to delete from public memory one of the world’s great 15th century explorers who is blamed for the sins of the Spanish empire in the Americas. These figures in stone and bronze represent a portion of the population who in their time wanted to recognize others for their deeds. It has ever been so. But there may come a time when even today’s heroes will be revealed for the frail humans they were and then the images of Washington, Jeffferson, and Lincoln may be defaced or torn down. Now might be the time to recall the words of the poet Shelley whose wrote in his poem “Ozymandias” concerning the fate of a statue found worn and broken found in the sands of the Sahara “behold ye mighty my great works and despair,” of which there was nothing left to behold. In my opinion, Easton, considering its conflicted past, has achieved a meaningful balance in the two statues in front of the courthouse, representing differing eras in its history. Let them be.
Deirdre LaMotte says
A statue is an “honor”. This is why even though it is history, having a statue of a Confederate is bestowing honor upon that image. Taking up armed conflict against the United States in order to keep people as slaves is not honorable and should not be given any platform for respect.
Gren Whitman says
DISHONORING THE UNITED STATES
By “honoring” the Confederacy (it’s inscribed “To the Talbot Boys 1861-1865 C.S.A.”), the Talbot Boys statue dishonors the United States.
As a former civil rights volunteer who supported voting rights for black Americans in Mississippi, Maryland (Caroline and Dorchester counties), and Georgia in the ‘60s and who continues to have grave concerns for minorities’ rights today, this statue has angered me ever since I encountered it some years ago.
I’m pleased to learn that Peter Franchot, Maryland’s comptroller, has recently declared his opposition to this monument to racism and white supremacy and I support his campaign to have it removed.
William Messner says
I wholeheartedly agree with Comptroller Franchot’s assertion that the Talbot Boys statue needs to be removed from the County Courthouse grounds. It is a monument to racism first in the form of slavery and then segregation and has no place in a public venue.
But it does have value as a reminder of the manner in which racism has long been legitimized in our society. Move it to the grounds of an educational institution and use it as a teaching tool, not to romanticize an ugly past, but to teach about the enduring legacy of white over black in our country.
Nancy Minot says
The civil war happened. We cannot erase or ignore it. Americans fought on both sides for a variety of reasons, good and bad. Isn’t it time to stop fighting this war? How about changing these statues to honor the Americans who fought and died in the civil war, period. We don’t need to refight one of the most tragic times in our history. We need to acknowledge it, learn from it and move on, hopefully as a better and more just country.
Joan Wetmore says
I researched this issue when I was on the board of the historical society several years ago. The statue was donated to Talbot County long after the war by a national woman’s group dedicated to the memory of Civil War soldiers. They paid for multiple castings of these statues and donated them to a number of other small towns as well.
At that time, I suggested that we (the historical society) find a way to fund and erect a memorial to the 300+ known Union soldiers from Talbot County. That would both honor the Union soldiers and give a more accurate picture of County allegiances during the Civil War.
There was no enthusiasm for that idea. Meanwhile County Council voted to keep the Talbot Boys and the subject was dropped.
I still think that showing both sides is a good option.