Now is the Time

With cities across America now removing confederate statues and names, now is the time for the Monroe City School Board to rename those schools that represent slavery, a symbol of shame to everyone and injustice to Black people. Thomas Jefferson and Robert E. Lee name should be removed and renamed ASAP. We thank the City School Board for renaming Abraham Lincoln Elementary. Black and white should be involved in choosing the new names. Some may ask why? If we are to try in healing the racial divide in our community, we must admit that those gentlemen owned slaves. General Robert E. Lee tried to avoid the fact he owned slaves after he inherited about 200 slaves from his father in law when he died. Although the will of his father in law read upon death to free the slaves, General Lee did not honor his father in law's request. his father in law's plantation was in disarray and in debt, so General Robert E. Lee held slaves to help him get the plantation out of debt. Our children should go to a schools named after individuals who they can see themselves aspiring to be. We are asking the Monroe City School Board to bring this matter to a vote at its next meeting. There is no need for any lengthy discussions and filibustering. We have reached out to all board members and only 2 have responded, come on city school board, and take the initial step in Monroe to make a meaningful change by renaming these schools. Nation of Islam-Monroe, LA According to School Board Policy Revised: December, 2012 Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 17:85, 42:267 Board minutes, 7-5-83, 3-12-13 Monroe City School Board-NAMING OF FACILITIES The Monroe City School Board believes naming a school is a matter of great importance. The Board shall not be influenced in its decision by personal prejudice or favoritism, political pressure, or temporary popularity in choosing a name. No school, school building, or school organization shall be named after any living person. However, a street that is maintained by the School Board and that is not a state or federal highway, or any existing athletic facilities at a school within the Board's jurisdiction may be named in honor of a living person. The Superintendent shall be responsible for soliciting names from staff, students, and the community and shall prepare procedures to follow in naming school properties. These procedures may include a timetable for the naming process in order to lessen any community or factional pressures which may build up when a selection is delayed or seems uncertain.

Photo Robert E. Lee Jr. High School pg 1

Photo Verbon Muhammad jump pg if space available