NEW ORLEANS – The Monumental Task Committee (MTC) announced that Louisiana State Senator Beth Mizell, a Republican representing District 12, filed a bill to provide protections for memorials through the creation of a Heritage Protection Commission.
MTC reps said their all-volunteer, non-political organization has been advocating for more than 25 years for the protection and preservation of Louisiana’s culture and heritage through maintaining, preserving and restoring the monuments that represent the historical events, figures, and organizations, which have shaped Louisiana.
“We are pleased to see that this legislature is considering methods to restrict the removal of these historical monuments, a step that has already been taken by many of our neighboring states,” the MTC released in a statement. “As we move into our third decade of service, we are excited about the possibilities that we can achieve with the help of our collaborators and supporters, including Senator Mizell and the Louisiana Heritage Protection Commission.”
MTC reps said their group:
• Does not support the removal of any city monuments, especially those that have graced the city’s landscape for over a century.
• Does not consider any of the city’s monuments to be “nuisances” as defined by the 1993 ordinance.
• Encourages the installation of new monuments to forgotten heroes or historic events.
• Supports the installation of interpretive plaques to aid in the ongoing discussion, which puts the monument in a more current context.
