Jax Chamber says it’s time to move forward, address other major issues after Confederate monument removal

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jax Chamber, a business organization representing more than 3,000 businesses serving Northeast Florida, said in a statement released Thursday that it’s time to look ahead following the contentious removal of a Confederate monument from Springfield Park last week.

“The statues have been removed and it’s time to look ahead. Our community has major issues in front of us this year and we are proudly partnering with Mayor [Donna] Deegan and the City Council to move our city forward,” the Chamber said in a statement. “As a business community, we’re focused on continuing to attract investment and jobs to Jacksonville, and ensuring everyone in our city has the opportunity to succeed.”

The Jax Chamber is led by President and CEO Daniel Davis, a Republican who was defeated by Deegan in the race for mayor.

MORE COVERAGE: Surprise removal of Confederate monument garners strong, mixed reactions from Jacksonville residents | ‘Donna Deegan is our Mayor, not our Monarch’: Councilman criticizes removal of Confederate monument in Springfield | Despite outcry, Mayor Deegan says she had legal authority to remove Confederate monument, and it wasn’t a secret | Historian: Springfield Park Confederate monument was put up to intimidate Black residents during Jim Crow era | ‘He would say great job Jacksonville’: Daughter of late civil rights activist remembers father as statue comes down | Take Em Down Jax, Springfield residents celebrate end of years-long battle to remove Confederate monument

Davis didn’t take a position one way or the other on whether the city should move the monument during his campaign, but he did tell News4JAX that he did not want taxpayer money to be used to remove any monument in Jacksonville.

Deegan was able to make that happen by using private donations to remove the more than 100-year-old monument to the Women of the Confederacy, but there has still been strong opposition to the move from the public and members of the city council.