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Paducah Confederate Symbol Debate Continues In City Commission Candidate Forum

Matt Markgraf
/
WKMS
Confederate General Lloyd Tilghman Statue in Paducah, Ky.

The ongoing debate in Paducah over Confederate symbols continued in a city commission candidate forum Thursday night. What to do with the statue of General Lloyd Tilghman generated considerable community attention last year, as similar debate rang across Kentucky and the nation.

Commissioner Richard Abraham is running for re-election. He said the statue serves as a reminder of a time when he and his wife couldn’t marry, but says he doesn’t want to see it removed.

"Leave it where it is," Abraham said. "It reminds me of how people of color have come. People of color are agent changers. We are change agents. That statue doesn’t bother me at all.”

Candidate Rev. Reynarldo Henderson said Paducah has an opportunity to improve race relations and should remove anything that reminds people of difficult times.

Other candidates suggested adding statues representing local historical figures. Current commissioner Sarah Stewart Holland said the statue need not be torn down in a dramatic way, but noted anything involving the statue should come through private donations.

Scott Jackson agreed with putting up statues of minority leaders. He said veterans don't want Confederate flags at parades, but noted that the statues are history and not something that needs to be taken down.

Brenda McElroy said the statues are a teaching point and a reminder to not repeat history and agreed with bringing in other statues that celebrate leaders of Paducah's history.

Michael Reed said the statue is part of Paducah's traditional history. He said while Tilghman fought for what he thought was right, the Confederates 'hitched their wagon' to a "failing creed" regarding maintaining slavery.

State Representative Gerald Watkins is seeking to regain his city commission seat. He took issue with the statue as well as the large Confederate flag waving off of Interstate 24. Anyone driving into Paducah from the south will likely notice the flag near Exit 16. Watkins said Confederate monuments belong in a museum, not on a major thoroughfare.

“30,000 vehicles a day drive right by that flag. And I think if I were a potential employer looking at western Kentucky or Paducah-McCracken County to locate a business I would just drive on," Watkins said.

He said he called the Kentucky attorney general a few months ago to see if Paducah could condemn the property. 

Commissioner Sandra Wilson is the president of the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce. Adding to Watkin's comment, she said she gets emails from people who pass up the city because of the flag.

As for the Tilghman statue, Wilson said it shouldn't be removed, but suggested adding a plaque that describes Tilghman's work involving the city's railroad.

Randy Beeler is the past commander and past captain of the Sons of Confederate Veterans General Lloyd Tilghman Camp 1495. He said, "If they want to destroy that park out there, we've got some serious problems, because we're willing to take this as far as we could go," including potential lawsuits. He said the park is on private property in the county and serves to educate visitors about the regional history of the Confederacy in west Kentucky. He added he doesn't want to have to bring the issue to court and asks city officials to leave their park alone. 

Read more about Tilghman.

Note: This story has been updated to include a response from the local SCV chapter regarding Watkins' comments about the Confederate flag on I-24.

Matt Markgraf joined the WKMS team as a student in January 2007. He's served in a variety of roles over the years: as News Director March 2016-September 2019 and previously as the New Media & Promotions Coordinator beginning in 2011. Prior to that, he was a graduate and undergraduate assistant. He is currently the host of the international music show Imported on Sunday nights at 10 p.m.
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