Montgomery: Still the heart of Confederacy
The civil rights movement has strong roots in Montgomery, yet in many ways, the city remains the heart of what remains of the Confederate States of America.
In downtown Montgomery, the state capital has an 88-foot-tall marker, the Alabama Confederate Monument, honoring fallen Confederate soldiers. On another side of the capital, a statue of former Confederate President Jefferson Davis towers over the sidewalk below. Serving as reminders for citizens and visitors alike, signs, plaques, memorials and more statues – noting historically significant events and places of the Confederacy – can be found all across the city.
It’s not just historical markers serving as reminders. Three days before the April 26 opening of the opening of the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, Montgomery’s government offices were closed in recognition of Confederate Memorial Day. The holiday is one of three official state holidays honoring the Confederacy in Alabama – Robert E. Lee’s birthday is observed on the same day as Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday in January and Jefferson Davis’ birthday is observed on the first Monday in June.
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