Last stand? Statue of confederate general could be replaced

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – A statue of Confederate Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith would be removed from the U.S. Capitol under a bill passed by the Florida Senate.

The Senate voted 33-7 Thursday for a bill (SB 310) to remove the statue. The Department of State’s Division of historical resources will provide three recommendations to replace it.

Each state is allowed two statues to represent it in the Capitol’s National Statuary Hall Collection. John Gorrie, whose inventions led to modern air conditioning and refrigeration, also represents Florida in the Capitol.

Democratic Sen. Geraldine Thompson supported the bill, saying, “Conditions change, understanding of issues change and societal views change.”

The House has a similar bill (HB 141) that’s ready for a floor vote.