City leaders respond to banner about monuments over TIAA Bank
Share and Follow


City councilman Matt Carlucci and mayoral candidates Donna Deegan and Al Ferraro chimed in on the controversy.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Take them down or leave them alone?

The conversation has picked up again after a banner with a confederate flag reading “put monuments back” was flown over Downtown Jacksonville near TIAA Bank Field on Sunday.

“Of all places, the stadium where we’re trying to unify our city and to try to use that as a place to wedge division. I just thought was the worst of manners,” City Councilmember Matt Carlucci said. 

Carlucci proposed a bill in February to remove confederate monuments, but it was voted down by city council.

He says he’s tired of the lack of action.

Fellow city councilmember, Al Ferraro, who is also running for mayor, wants to leave the monuments alone saying there are more pressing issues.

“Even running as mayor, I don’t have people coming up to me talking about monuments and confederate statues they’re talking about what’s happening with the crime in our city they’re talking about what’s happening with all the money our road infrastructure why is our roads in the condition that they’re in the bridges why are we having flooding issues throughout our city those are really the issues people are asking about.” Ferraro said.

Ferraro did not condone nor condemn the banner flown over TIAA Bank Field on Sunday, but added it was a distraction from more important problems in the city.

We reached out to the other mayoral candidates. Donna Deegan** responded.

“Once again, symbols of hate are on display as Jacksonville is on the national stage. But it doesn’t reflect our inclusive city. We stand united against any and all forms of hate, and we will take down all the monuments to a dark past. That’s our message to the rest of the world.” Deegan said in a statement to First Coast News. 

We are still waiting to hear back from the other seven candidates. 

**In full transparency, Deegan’s husband is First Coast News’ Chief Meteorologist, Tim Deegan. Tim is not involved in our political coverage.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

“MJ: The Musical: Controversy Surrounds Omission of Child Abuse Allegations”

A new musical about the life of Michael Jackson which has arrived…

Truck Collision Causes Texas School Bus to Flip Over, Captured on Dashcam

Distressing dashcam footage has emerged showing the moment a Texas school bus…

Former Senator and 2000 Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee Joe Lieberman Passes Away at Age 82

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) Former U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who nearly…

Joe Lieberman, who was the first Jewish individual to be nominated for vice president by a major political party, has passed away at the age of 82.

Former Sen. Joe Lieberman (Conn.), who became the first Jewish vice-presidential candidate…

The Justice Department claims California’s prohibition on facial hair for prison guards constitutes religious bias.

The federal government is asking a court to halt California’s enforcement of…

Man Faces Charges for Alleged Assault on Teenager in Alabama

An illegal migrant allegedly raped a 14-year-old girl who was ‘mentally incapacitated’…

Man Shot and Pepper-Sprayed During Earbud Purchase in Jacksonville

Police say the man in his 20s was shot in the wrist…

Parents of Sam Bankman-Fried were seen at the courthouse in Manhattan.

Samuel Bankman-Fried ignored his parents as he faked being in handcuffs with…