ST. LOUIS (KMOV.com) – Crews have removed the top of the Confederate Monument in Forest Park.
Mayor Lyda Krewson says it is the first step in dismantling the monument that has been at the center of heated debates.
“We don’t know how its pinned together, part of the reason the top came off is so we can see how its put together,” explained Mayor Krewson.
Krewson says it could still be several weeks before the monument is removed. It is made up of 14 parts and weighs more than 80,000 pounds.
A hearing with the Parks Committee was held Thursday night discuss the future of the monument. The alderman on the committee felt despite the seemingly moot point of the meeting, it was still important to hear from the public.
“She knows there’s a legislative body and I wish she had gone through that process,” said Alderwoman Sharon Tyus, who introduced the bill to take down the monument.
“I believe the public has a right to have hearings,” said Tyus.
At the hearing there were those for and against the removal of the monument, but also those that raised concerns about priorities, asking why this was the mayor’s focus with a surging crime rate.
“We’re working on crime every single day, I was at police meeting for two hours, just because were doing this does not mean you’re not working on public safety, you’ve got to be able to do more than one thing as the mayor,” said Krewson.
The monument has been targeted by vandals recently. There have also been multiple disagreements over whether the monument should be taken down.
The mayor’s office said they are open to offers to put it in a museum.