Sons of Confederate veterans held a demonstration Sunday for Florida’s Confederate Memorial Day celebration.
A group gathered in downtown Fort Myers surrounding the bust of Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
HAPPENING NOW: The Sons of Confederate soldiers in Fort Myers are paying respects to Robert E. Lee and confederate soldiers in downtown Fort Myers. They say they’re here to celebrate the annual Confederate Memorial Day in the state of Florida which is on April 26. pic.twitter.com/8RhOm0dzi9
— Chris Grisby (@ChrisGrisbyNews) April 22, 2018
Members of the group said they want to keep the history of Lee County alive and are against the removal of the statue, which has been the source of fiery debate in recent months.
MORE: SWFL sounds off on Robert E. Lee statue in downtown Fort Myers
However, the event Sunday had nothing to do with the controversy surrounding the statue.
Still, many people are pushing city and council leaders to remove the bust from its prominent spot in downtown Fort Myers.
A rally last week was the latest in an ongoing battle over the monument.
MORE: Pleas to keep confederate statue heard at Fort Myers council meeting