Confederate memorials in Wilmington caught in current conflict

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY)– Both the George Davis Statue and Boney Confederate Memorial were vandalized early this morning.

Many people might not know the history behind both of these monuments that are caught in a current conflict.

After Governor Roy Cooper tweeted the confederate monuments should come down, many people are talking about the future of these statues all over the state.

A statue in Durham was torn down and after someone spray painted statues in Wilmington, Wilmington police are taking note.

“Certainly seems to be a problem around the county and that is something we are concerned with and taking measures to try and prevent,” Wilmington Deputy Police Chief Mitch Cunningham said.

The statue at Market St. and Third St. is of George Davis, the Confederate Attorney General. That statue’s face is now covered in bright paint.

The Boney Confederate Memorial located at Third St. and Dock St. has spray paint near the statue’s feet.

Whether these statues ultimately stay or go, is still uncertain.

“We don’t know what’s going to happen to them. I mean I think that’s the thing, we’re in this moment of transition about, people make meaning of memorials,” Cape Fear Museum historian Jan Davidson said.

Both were donated to the city as gifts. And because they are city property police are taking extra measures to keep them as they are, for now.

“Of course we’ve increased patrols were looking at the crimes that have occurred, investigating those and moving forward on the investigation,” Cunningham said

Cunningham said it is still too early to have any leads on the investigation.

The City of Wilmington said they will try again tomorrow to remove the paint.