Brandon residents split over whether to relocate downtown Confederate monument

Dozens of Brandon residents addressed the Board of Aldermen on July 7 in a public-comment session dominated by the question of whether to relocate a Confederate monument from the courthouse square.

John Tony, a longtime resident who spoke first, told the board the statue’s placement and carved wording—he reviewed the monument’s inscriptions—reflect political messaging from the early 20th century and said that, while some view it as a memorial to soldiers, many Black residents perceive it as a symbol of racial hierarchy. “To white folks driving down the road… it is nothing more than a memorial to the Confederate soldier. To the Black folks that see that thing most of them will say… it is a monument to white supremacy,” Tony said.

Several speakers urged relocation. Trey Rain, principal at Brandon Middle School, said the statue sits on a main route for students—about 37% of the school’s population—and urged the board to consider moving the monument to a less prominent or more historically appropriate spot. “If there’s going to be a statue in the very heart of Downtown Brandon, let’s have it be one that brings honor to all this town’s citizens,” Rain said.

Dr. Betty Ward Fletcher, who grew up in Rankin County, described a painful personal history of encountering the statue and asked aldermen to move “the unnamed soldier” to the Brandon Cemetery, where she said it would be more appropriate and dignified.

Other residents described the monument as local heritage and urged keeping it in place. Dan Duggan, who identified himself as commander of a Sons of Confederate Veterans camp, said the statue honors family members and tradition and asked the board not to remove it. “Don’t move that statue,” Duggan told the board.

Mark Allen, another speaker who opposed relocation, said memorials are intended to mark loss and sacrifice and argued education—not removal—should be the focus. Several other speakers similarly framed the statue as a tribute to local soldiers and asked that elected officials respect that history.

Speakers also raised pragmatic points. Some opponents said moving the statue would not resolve traffic issues and warned the city against erasing history; proponents pointed to the monument’s inscriptions and placement near civic buildings as evidence the memorial communicates more than private grief. Lance Stevens, who offered $5,000 toward relocation costs, told the board the statue had become a “lightning rod” for protests and said moving it could help make Brandon more welcoming.

The board’s chair told the audience the discussion would continue at future meetings and noted the city will hold another forum July 21. The hearing drew more speakers than expected; the chair brought in additional chairs so everyone who wanted to comment could do so.

What happens next: the public-comment period will continue at upcoming board meetings and forums; the aldermen did not announce a final decision at the July 7 session.