In Charleston, South Carolina, the debate over the John C. Calhoun statue has taken another turn. Over five years after the statue was removed from its prominent location in Marion Square, the City of Charleston has announced that it must be moved out of city limits by its new owners. This marks a new chapter in the long-running controversy surrounding the statue of the former vice president, who was a strong supporter of slavery.
The Removal of the Statue
The John C. Calhoun statue, erected in 1896, stood for nearly 125 years before being removed in June 2020. The removal came after Charleston’s city council unanimously voted to take it down, a decision that was met with mixed reactions. Calhoun, a prominent statesman from South Carolina, is best known for his defense of slavery, a position that has led to widespread criticism, especially in the wake of the 2020 protests following the death of George Floyd.
The removal was part of a broader movement across the United States to reconsider monuments to figures tied to slavery and racism. While many viewed the statue as a painful reminder of Charleston’s history with slavery, others felt that removing it was an attempt to erase history.
The Calhoun Monument Preservation Society Takes Ownership
At a Charleston City Council meeting on Tuesday, leaders announced that the Calhoun Monument will be handed over to the Calhoun Monument Preservation Society, which is affiliated with the American Heritage Association (AHA). The group was formed by the descendants of Calhoun and those who support preserving South Carolina’s historical heritage.
Cal Stephens, president of the AHA, commented, “The Calhoun monument will once again be in the hands of those who respect South Carolina’s historical inheritance.” The Preservation Society now plans to re-erect the statue for public viewing, though details on the location are still unclear.
Legal Battles and City’s Decision
The move follows years of legal disputes between the city of Charleston and the AHA. In 2022, the AHA filed a lawsuit against the city, arguing that the removal of the monument violated the state’s Heritage Act, as it was done without approval from South Carolina lawmakers. The case had been appealed after a district judge ruled that only the state Attorney General could enforce the Heritage Act. The AHA has also argued that the city violated a charitable trust agreement by removing the statue.
In Tuesday’s city council meeting, the settlement of this lawsuit was announced. The Preservation Society now has until September to remove the statue from the city’s storage facility, or it will be charged rent. This settlement marks the resolution of a legal dispute that has spanned several years.
Public Reaction and the Future of the Statue
The removal of the statue was a major point of division in Charleston and the broader South Carolina community. Many viewed Calhoun as a symbol of racism and oppression, while others defended the statue as part of the state’s history. Former Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg explained that while the city acknowledged Calhoun’s role as a statesman, it could not overlook his harmful views on slavery and racism.
Following the statue’s removal, there were plans to place it in museums or educational institutions, but these plans fell through. The Charleston Museum, a prominent local institution, declined to accept the statue, and a potential arrangement with a museum in California never materialized. Similarly, a proposed housing of the statue at the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia also collapsed.
The End of a Controversial Chapter
Councilman Ross Appel, who supported the removal, expressed relief that the litigation surrounding the statue was now resolved. He stated that the settlement would help the community move forward, saying, “I hope this resolution helps us move forward together as a community.”
The future of the John C. Calhoun statue remains uncertain, but it is clear that this chapter of Charleston’s history is far from over. The statue will continue to spark debate as it moves to its new home, and the story of its removal and eventual re-erection will remain a part of South Carolina’s ongoing conversation about race, history, and the legacy of public monuments.
