A Change.org petition asks leadership in Anderson to replace the Confederate monument downtown with a statue of the late Chadwick Boseman.
Two online petitions have gained more than 13,000 electronic signatures in an effort to erect a Chadwick Boseman memorial in place of an existing Confederate monument in the famed actor’s hometown.
Boseman, 43, died Friday after a 4-year battle against colon cancer, a struggle unknown to most of the world. Advertisement
He was from Anderson and graduated from T.L. Hanna High School.
Boseman was known for portraying Black icons Jackie Robinson, James Brown and Thurgood Marshall on the silver screen before playing the first Black superhero in 2018’s “Black Panther.”
“Mr. Boseman is without question an American treasure and his accolades go on and on. It is only fitting that his work is honored in the same place that birthed him,” one of the online petitions stated.
The organizer writes, “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 honors what he did. There is no need for political controversy in this decision. The old statue need not be destroyed; however, with the engravings on the base, it is beyond time for its retirement.”
The organizer suggests the Confederate monument be moved to the Anderson County Museum. It currently sits downtown in front of a courthouse.
As of Tuesday morning, there were nearly 14,000 signatures on the petition.
