GRAHAM, N.C. — The Alamance County NAACP chapter says it is dropping its lawsuit to try to remove a confederate monument in Graham.
Ernest Lewis, Chair of the Alamance County NAACP Legal Redress Committee, said the cons outweighed the pros when it came to moving forward with litigation.
"Looking at demographics of the courts and the ramifications of taking this argument forward, we made the decision to step back," Lewis told WFMY News 2.
He said the removal process also involved challenging a state statute.
"When you make arguments at the appellate court you don't know what the judges are going to do. The appellate court judges panel made it very clear that they weren't aligned with our arguments," Lewis shared.
Several groups, including the North Carolina NAACP, filed a lawsuit in 2021 to try to force the county to remove the statue.
They argued that the monument is a public safety threat and that keeping it up violates the Constitution.
They said leaders should move it to a "historically appropriate location."
In March 2024, a judge ruled that county commissioners do not have the authority to move it. The judge cited the Monument Protection Law.
The Alamance County NAAP said it will continue to host community events to promote education.
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