In a recent segment on Fox & Friends, co-host Brian Kilmeade surprised his colleagues by expressing opposition to the restoration of Confederate monuments, specifically a statue of Robert E. Lee. The debate arose as Fox News reporter Carley Shimkus highlighted challenges faced by local governments to reverse decisions made in 2020 to remove monuments of controversial historical figures.
Shimkus mentioned that a monument to Lee was reinstalled in Charleston, South Carolina, after being removed from a school campus in 2021. Kilmeade argued that the debate over such monuments had ‘broke the fever of George Floyd’ and shared his opinion on the matter. ‘I’m not necessarily into seeing Robert E. Lee’s statue come back. He made a choice, and it was the wrong choice,’ Kilmeade stated, referencing Lee’s decision to side with the South during the Civil War.
Co-host Lawrence Jones added to the discussion by emphasizing the importance of historical accuracy. ‘It is getting the history right. So, our Confederate statues in Texas, we have a plaque under it to explain what actually happened in the Civil War. That’s what the young people need to know about. The statues are fine. Just don’t think that he’s a hero, because he’s not a hero,’ Jones said.
Ainsley Earhardt expressed surprise at Kilmeade’s stance, noting his usual advocacy for preserving history. Kilmeade responded, ‘Yeah, but I wouldn’t want to give a tribute to them. I’m not saying forget what Robert E. Lee did well, but to have his statue back up as if it’s a tribute to him? He made a choice, and it was the wrong choice.’
Historical Context and Community Impact
The discussion reflects broader national conversations about how communities choose to remember history and the figures they honor. While some advocate for the preservation of monuments as historical artifacts, others argue that they serve as painful reminders of a divisive past. The debate continues to unfold in various localities, with community members and local governments weighing the implications of either restoring or permanently removing such monuments.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
