Confederate statue removed from base in Owensboro

OWENSBORO, Ky. (WFIE) - After years of debate, the statue of a confederate soldier on the Daviess Co. Courthouse lawn has been moved.

Tuesday, it was moved from its base.

14 News was told it was taken to the Daviess Co. Operations Center.

In 2020, the Fiscal Court voted to relocate it after the NAACP and many concerned citizens proposed its removal.

There was then a temporary restraining order that stopped the move.

The Kentucky United Daughters of the Confederacy had sued over the court’s decision to remove it, stating that it wasn’t the county’s right.

Earlier this month, a judge ruled in favor of the county stating that the Fiscal Court owns the statue and can do with it what they want.

The Daughters of the Confederacy have filed an appeal on that decision, but Judge Executive Al Mattingly told 14 News that they never filed anything to prevent its removal.

[Related: Daviess Co. Monument Relocation Committee votes on recommendations]

With the statue gone, many people gathered at the courthouse to take pictures of the pedestal.

Some, like Emma Thompson, told 14 News they were happy to see it gone.

“I just think it was something that was tearing our community apart,” she explained. “I just think it doesn’t belong on what I pay my taxes on.”

Mattingly said Tuesday that they plan to eventually remove or repurpose the remaining pedestal, but he said that could take a long time.

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