The Republican Party of Duval County has urged Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan to distance herself from the calls made by her own appointees to remove a statue of Andrew Jackson in the downtown area. The city, named after Jackson, was under his governance as the military governor of the Florida territory in 1822.

Leslie Scott Jean-Bart, a member of Deegan’s Transition Committee, criticized the left’s efforts to remove symbols of racism and slavery, calling it a sign of desperation. Hope McMath, another committee member, suggested that Jackson could be the next target for removal.

In response, the Duval GOP labeled Deegan’s recent order to remove a Confederate statue in the city as “unlawful.” They questioned whether she would also consider removing the statue of Andrew Jackson and any other monuments deemed offensive, insinuating that she might succumb to pressure from the “woke” movement within her party.

The Jacksonville Office of General Counsel defended Deegan’s authority to remove the Confederate monument without explicit city council approval, citing the mayor’s exclusive authority over city parks and property. The removal was funded privately and did not involve city funds.

Representative Dean Black criticized the removal as a “stunning abuse of power” and accused Democrats of indulging in Cancel Culture. He called for immediate accountability from the city council.

Black previously introduced legislation to protect historical monuments and memorials, emphasizing the importance of preserving all aspects of history. Senator Jon Martin filed a companion bill to support this initiative.