The Fort Myers City Council voted to keep the bust of American Confederate General Robert E. Lee down during a meeting on Monday.
The Fort Myers City Attorney, Grant Alley was tasked in June to determine the legal ownership of the bust, which has been in Downtown Fort Myers since 1966.
The bust was dedicated to the city of Fort Myers and Lee County when it was first put up, but it isn’t entirely clear which of the two governing bodies owns it. Alley told the city council he spent countless hours tracking down and pouring over documents and consulting with the county’s attorney.
“I believe the city owns the pedestal, I believe the city owns the bust, and I believe the city owns the land that it's on, however we are not in possession of the bust right now,” Alley said.
Members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans maintain the bust, and removed it on June 2 to have some repairs done, according to a member who spoke during the public comment section of the meeting. That same member said she had papers proving the group has power of attorney over the bust.
Alley urged city council members to not vote on a resolution regarding the bust until he or the city manager could do more research into the ownership of the bust.
Council member Teresa Watkins Brown, who represents Ward 1, said the time for waiting to act had passed.
“So we need to start laying aside our differences and start coming together and working together,” Watkins Brown said. “So I would hope that if the City of Fort Myers owns this property, that the City of Fort Myers would do the right thing, it's time to do the right thing.”
Watkins Brown said she didn’t want the bust to be destroyed.
“I’m sure nobody would want a statue of one of my ancestors hanging from a tree downtown Fort Myers, you wouldn't want to see that because you wouldn't want to be reminded of that—I don’t want to be reminded of it, but it took place and it happened.” Watkins Brown said. “There are things in our history that's hurtful and we’re not saying destroy history, but we’re saying put it in its proper place so that whoever wants to enjoy that history, will have an opportunity to do that.”
Council member Terolyn Watson, Ward 3, filed a motion that the bust not be placed back on city property until the city attorney and city manager can further investigate the issue of ownership and present options for council members to vote on.
The motion passed unanimously.
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