Bill to block removal of Confederate monuments rejected

Published 11:08 am Wednesday, April 6, 2016

<span class="RACopyBody">BATON ROUGE  — A proposal to stop the teardown of Louisiana’s Confederate monuments and step into an ongoing fight in New Orleans has failed to win support in the state Senate, blocked by Democratic lawmakers.</span>

<span class="RACopyBody">Sen. Beth Mizell, a Republican who lives 70 miles north of New Orleans, sought to create a state commission to sign off on monument removals. She told senators: "History is bigger than a single community or the mood of a moment."</span>

<span class="RACopyBody">The argument failed to sway Democrats on the committee, all of whom are black.</span>

<span class="RACopyBody">The panel voted 5-4 Wednesday against Mizell’s bill, splitting along party lines and stalling it in committee.</span>

<span class="RACopyBody">New Orleans efforts to remove Confederate monuments have been stymied. Backlash against the plan has made it difficult for the city to find a contractor.</span><p>The monument of Jefferson Davis is seen on Jefferson Davis Parkway at Canal Street in New Orleans. (Associated Press)</p>