BRUNSWICK– A local family descended from a Confederate Major General, and Ku Klux Klan leader, have officially requested that a statue in his honor be removed from the Georgia State Capitol grounds.

In total, 44 decedents of ex-Georgian Gov. John Brown Gordon, have pledged their names in a letter to now Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, demanding the statue’s removal. The letter states:

“As Governor of Georgia, our ancestor was instrumental in re-establishing and perpetuating the political and social culture of white supremacy and the oppression of black citizens…The primary purpose and effect of this statue was to celebrate and mythologize the white supremacist cause of the Confederacy.”

Governor Kemp has yet to respond. His office denying reception of the letter, and ignoring further questioning on the matter.

Alida Snow, the descendant who organized the petition, has gone on record that she recognizes her great-great-grandfather as “on the wrong side of history” and that a statue commemorating her relative has “… been up too long already.”

Kemp has remained quiet on the issue, and Georgia state law makes removing statues difficult. Stating that if moved, they must be placed in a location of similar prominence.

Regardless, the Snows will continue to demand the statue’s removal; hoping that having Gordon’s decedents against the marker could help influence the decision.