The Daniel Webster Perkins Bar Association Inc. in Jacksonville issued a statement Sept. 1 supporting the removal of a Baker County Courthouse mural that includes the depiction of three members of the Ku Klux Klan.
“The Daniel Webster Perkins Bar Association Inc. was named after the great pioneer, D.W. Perkins, who was one of the first African Americans to practice law in Duval County.
“Our mission and purpose continues to be that of a change agent to improve the plight of the African American community and to combat the effects of racial and social injustices.
“One of the objectives of the association is to uphold the honor and integrity of the legal profession. It is of utmost importance to the association that we have a fair and impartial justice system.
“We believe this objective is harmed when those entering the Baker County Courthouse are greeted by a mural reminding its patrons of a horrific time in our country’s history. While the mural itself may have value and provide the opportunity for conversations about the ugliest parts of our history, the placement of it inside the Baker County Courthouse does not serve to further this purpose.
“We as an association add our voices to the chorus of voices demanding that the mural be removed immediately. We continue to be devoted to listening to those previously unheard, disregarded, overlooked and discounted within our community and lifting them up to see real change.”
Sincerely,
Christine A. Michel
President, D.W. Perkins Bar Association
