Council votes to remove Confederate monument from courthouse grounds

By Rebecca Chaisson on Friday, April 22, 2022
  • Opelousas attorney Robert Voitier Jr. opposed the removal of a Confederate monument on the St. Landry Parish courthouse grounds during a Parish Council meeting Wednesday in Opelousas. Seated at right is former Parish District Attorney Charles Cravins who argued for the monument’s removal. Standing in the rear is Don Leger, of Opelousas, who also supported removal of the monument. The Parish Council voted to remove to monument. (Photo by Harlan Kirgan)
    Opelousas attorney Robert Voitier Jr. opposed the removal of a Confederate monument on the St. Landry Parish courthouse grounds during a Parish Council meeting Wednesday in Opelousas. Seated at right is former Parish District Attorney Charles Cravins who argued for the monument’s removal. Standing in the rear is Don Leger, of Opelousas, who also supported removal of the monument. The Parish Council voted to remove to monument. (Photo by Harlan Kirgan)

    The St. Landry Parish Council voted 9-3 to remove a 102-year-old Confederate monument from the courthouse grounds. The resolution also directs Parish President Jessie Bellard to offer the 18- foot tall monument to be offered to the daughters or sons of the Confederacy to be used for a public purpose. The vote Wednesday at a regular Council meeting caps a two-month long often impassioned debate…