Thousands Sign Petition To Replace Confederate Monument With Statue Of Chadwick Boseman

The world is collectively mourning the loss of actor Chadwick Boseman.

The actor who played T'Challa in Black Panther and inspired millions of people around the world died last week after battling colon cancer.

It was a massive shock to everyone who had no idea the 42-year-old was privately undergoing countless surgeries and rounds of chemotherapy in between shooting films and doing promotional work.

His colleagues have posted loads of emotional messages and regular folk are looking at ways of honouring the star to continue his legacy. One idea is to erect a statue in his hometown of Anderson, South Carolina.

PA

A petition has been launched on Change.org to tear down a Confederate monument in Anderson and replace it with an iconic image of Boseman.

The online campaign is addressed to Mayor of Anderson Terence Roberts and says: "With Chadwick Boseman's early passing, it is important that we honour a true local legend my immortalising him in stone in front of the courthouse.

"The Confederate Monument belongs in a museum, but has no right to be displayed there. I believe the community should come together to honour someone from Anderson, South Carolina that was able to change the movie industry.

"He opened many doors for many young black people with his leading roles in movies such as Black Panther or Marshall. It is only natural that his hometown honours what he did.

Change.org

"The Anderson County Museum should be the permanent home to the Confederate Monument. It should be accompanied by the history of the monument and the reasoning for its relocation. I suggest that the Anderson City Council decide to replace the statue as soon as they possibly can."

It seems like it's a very popular idea as nearly 9,000 people have signed the petition.

But the statue removal won't be as simple as ordering a removalist. The city will have go through the South Carolina Senate as it's illegal in the state to remove a Confederate statue due to the Heritage Act.

But the Anderson resident who launched the petition hopes that enough people will sign the online campaign and get the attention it needs to change the minds of the people in the South Carolina Senate.

A separate petition that was launched three months ago to keep the Confederate statue has amassed more than 8,000 signatures.

Topics: Chadwick Boseman, Entertainment, Celebrity

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

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