Confederate monuments

Confederate monuments are statues or memorials erected to honor individuals or groups who fought for the Confederacy during the American Civil War, primarily representing Southern states' efforts to maintain slavery. Many of these monuments were built decades after the war ended, often to reinforce regional identity or white supremacy. In recent years, they have become controversial, viewed by some as symbols of historic remembrance and by others as reminders of racism and oppression. Debates focus on whether these monuments should stay, be relocated, or removed, reflecting complex perspectives on history, memory, and social justice.