11:29 AM CDT Sep 23, 2016
NEW ORLEANS —
The city will appeal an order to stop the removal of four Confederate monuments around town next Wednesday, but before that hearing one group plans to make a major move in this on-going battle.
"We're sick and tired of it. The mayor has been too slow. Nine months is long enough," said Pastor Marie Galatas Ortiz, a protest organizer.
The group Take 'Em Down NOLA plans to throw ropes around the statue of Andrew Jackson and pull it down on Saturday.
When the group announced its intent, city officials responded asking them to cancel plans or face jail time.
"We don't support any law that would defend the maintenance of these white supremacy monuments. So that's a law that we're prepared to ignore. It's a law we're prepared to challenge in court," said Malcolm Suber, with Take 'Em Down NOLA.
The iconic Andrew Jackson statue is not one of the four monuments that the council voted to remove earlier this year. But the protest organizers say it's just as bad, and it needs to go too.
"He is not deserving of any public adoration. People around the country have already decided that he is not deserving to be on the 20 dollar bill any longer-- replacing him with Harriet Tubman. We think if people around the country recognize that, we certainly should recognize that right here in the city of New Orleans," said Suber.
The group plans to meet at 1 p.m. in Congo Square then march to Jackson Square where they plan to take down the statue.
Burn your money or shut the F*** up.
China is investing in New Orleans, name the squares and traffic circles after the new masters.
Hell, Lee Circle can even keep it’s name.
Are they really marching from Congo Square or is that a joke? It fits perfectly though.