Local Actions
We’ve been lucky to have the support of passionate locals who are willing to stand up and make some noise about racial justice in Sylva. Read on to find out more about our on-going actions and our past activities.
Past Actions
Blank slate? New signs.
After the County Commissioners decided to cover the base but leave the statue, we put our paint and cardboard to good use. Our message, as always, is that there are exemplary Americans we can honor in our public spaces. A Confederate soldier isn’t one of them.
Memorial to Black Lives
The continued enslavement of Black bodies and the devaluation of Black lives was central to the Confederacy. Until we understand that fact, we cannot be reconciled to our past or to each other. We must recognize that Black lives matter more than preserving white supremacy.
And yet, all our actions don’t have to be brash. In fact, this one was deeply caring and tender. We used the newly-erected fence around the statue to create a temporary memorial to Black lives lost to police and state violence. Take some time to sit with our gallery of bouquets and mourn with us lives that we should not have lost.
Rally to Reconcile
On the 105th anniversary of the dedication of the statue, we held a rally with speakers and music. You can watch our live video here.
Removal is the compromise
We gathered the night of the County Commissioners’ vote to keep the statue in place. Check out Quintin Ellison’s powerful photos from that night here.
Interfaith Vigil
On International Day of Peace, we partnered with the Jackson County NAACP to hold an interfaith vigil for racial justice, knowing that there can be no peace without justice. You can see coverage of the event here.
Daily Protests
For weeks, as the County Commissioners debated what could and should be done about Sylva’s Confederate statue, we kept the noise up through our daily protests downtown. If you drove down Main Street between 4-6pm, you likely saw us holding signs and waving at everyone we saw.
Two Billboards Outside Sylva, NC
We raised funds to rent two billboards on the highway into town to help raise awareness of our on-going need to declare that Black lives matter and to engage in conversations about racism with those who will inherit the world we shape today.
Read coverage of our billboards here.
Rally to Reconcile
In our first action, which drew attention and counter-protestors, we gathered in bridge park to hear speakers and share some joy before marching through downtown Sylva and holding silence for Black lives lost to police violence. You can read coverage of this event here. The event was originally posted here.