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Bill To Remove Official Confederate Holidays In Louisiana Advances To The House

C.Smith

CONFEDERATE HOLIDAYS - There’s been a move to remove Confederate monuments in Louisiana cities over the past few years, but what about the official Confederate Holidays? Official state holidays in Louisiana include Robert E.Lee Day and Confederate Memorial Day. Currently, these holidays are on Louisiana’s list of legal holidays. But a House panel wants to officially have them from being recognized as such and removed from the official state holiday list.

Democratic New Orleans Rep. Matthew Willard, who is Black has sponsored a bill to have these Confederate holidays removed.

Speaking before the House Judiciary Committee yesterday, Williard said he was shocked when he learned Confederate holidays are still on the books.

“Try to put yourself in my shoes as a young Black man in this state who just found out that those two holidays existed and how that would affect you," Willard said.

Democratic New Orleans Rep. Matthew Willard, who is Black has sponsored a bill to have Louisiana's official Confederate holidays removed.
Courtesy: LA House Video Archive
Democratic New Orleans Rep. Matthew Willard, who is Black has sponsored a bill to have Louisiana's official Confederate holidays removed.

While it’s been years since either holiday has been officially observed, they have been in the Louisiana lawbooks since 1925. House Bill 248 was discussed in the House Judiciary Committee yesterday and in less than 5 minutes it was advanced without opposition, it now goes to the full House for debate.

Chuck Smith brings more than 30 years' broadcast and media experience to Red River Radio. He began his career as a radio news reporter and transitioned to television journalism and newsmagazine production. Chuck studied mass communications at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia and motion picture / television production at the University of California at Los Angeles. He has also taught writing for television at York Technical College in Rock Hill, South Carolina and video / film production at Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport.