Best News Story of 2020
Calhoun statue removal
Well, they actually did it. After years of debate and weeks of nationwide protests last June, the statue of John C. Calhoun that had stood over Marion Square since 1898 finally came down. And, it certainly didn’t go without a fight. Not only did some locals protest the removal of the slavery-defender’s likeness, but the actual statue itself stubbornly clung to its position, necessitating the use of a diamond cutter to finally take it down. But, progress is a struggle that takes effort, and the efforts of many activists were successful in changing the literal face of downtown Charleston for the better. A symbolic victory for equity, yes, but a small victory nonetheless. It remains to be seen what other work will be done to reach the elusive equity that the city is after, but Calhoun is no longer on a literal pedestal in the center of town.
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