Arrest the Florence City Council?

As we have stated, we support the removal of the CSA military monument to Soldiers’ Rest in Florence. When we first heard there was a move afoot to have the Lauderdale County Commission charged with criminal conspiracy due to the cash payment to facilitate the removal, we laughed. Then we thought about Steve Marshall and considered the charges possible, but we were still amused at the thought of our commission having to face arrest. Now the onus seems to be on the Florence City Council. Would Steve Marshall actually prosecute them?

Here’s one Lauderdale resident’s opinion:

WWII Monuments to Be Removed from Florence?

Bribery is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official.

I think we can all agree that it would be a shame to see Mayor Holt, any member of the Florence City Council, and/or County Commissioners sentenced to spend up to the next 20 years in a federal penitentiary.

Unfortunately, Mayor Holt stated at a recent County Commission meeting that a group of business owners pledged money to pay the cost of moving the Confederate monument and the $25,000 fine in exchange for the city/county voting to break Alabama Sate Law.

Supporters of the monument's move said that the state law was "passed in 2017 by racists" and "no need to follow unjust laws."

Questions have already been raised how could Commissioner Brad Holmes remain a member of the Florence Police Department if he votes to take the law into his own hands?

Has any official even consulted with lawyers, Chris Connolly, or Steve Marshall?

Thomas Jefferson, who owned over 600 slaves, wrote the Declaration of Independence. Is it no longer valid?

What about the innocent people killed as a result of the atomic bombings of Japan? Should all WWII monuments be taken down?

What would Native American Indians say about white supremacy? Should we bulldoze the whole country and start over?

I personally think that Soldiers' Rest is a good place for the Confederate monument but it has to be done the right way. Otherwise, we will lose much more than we gain.

Forever grateful, your good bud,

ZAR