Group says Fort Myers may not legally have right to remove Robert E. Lee statue

The sons and daughters of confederate veterans say the city of Fort Myers may be overstepping its bounds, when it comes to possibly removing the Robert E.

Lee statue in downtown.

AND LEAD OUR COUNTRY." WE WILLBE CHECKING IN WITH THECONVENTION THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT.TONIGHT...THE ROBERT E.

LEESTATUE BACK UP FOR DISCUSSION INFORT MYERS CITY COUNCILCHAMBERS.THEY’RE LOOKING INTO LEGALOPTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO *WHATTHEY CAN AND CAN’T LEGALLY DOWITH IT.

FOX 4’S ROCHELLEALLEYNE WAS AT TONIGHT’S MEETINGAND EXPLAINS WHY SOME SAY THECITY IS OVER STEPPING ITS REACH.(150-201)A SILENT REMINDER OF OURNATION’S PAST...IS GENERATING ALOT OF DISCUSSION ONCE AGAIN"We say we are a country thatbelieves in democracy?

Welldemocracy has spoken.""The bust is down now and itneeds to remain down.""It has a place in history butit does not have a place indowntown fort myers."THOSE FOR AND AGAINST THEREMOVAL OF THE CITY’S ROBERT E.LEE STATUE...LAID OUT THEIR CASEMONDAY NIGHT"Please don’t be influencedthose who wish to destroy ouhistory.""The city is acting in tyranny."INCLUDING THOSE WHO TAKE CARE OFIT...THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OFCONFEDERATE VETS.."We’ve been the caretakers ofthe monument for the last 20years."THE GROUP SAYS THE STATUE’S BUHAS BEEN TAKEN DOWN FORREPAIRS...AND CLAIMS IT’S NOT ASYMBOL OF HATE...BUT OF HISTOR"We’re not here to divide, we’not here for a fight, we’re notsupremacist."THEY ALSO PROVIDED DOCUMENTSTHAT CLAIM THE CITY DOESN’T OWNIT AND THUS...CAN’T TOUCHIT...OR REALLY MAKE A DECISIABOUT IT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER."That paper states the countyowns the statue, not the city."BUT THE CITY ATTORNEY SAYS HE’SNEVER SEEN THAT PAPERWORK...ANDCLAIMS THAT BASED ON THEUNVEILING CEREMODOCUMENTS...IT WAS A GIFT TO THECITY *AND COUNTY...AND THAT THELAND IT SITS ON IT CITY-OWNED.((Grant Alley//Fort Myers CityAttorney))"I believe you own it....."SEVERAL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERSWANT TO SEE THAT STATUE REMOVEDALTOGETHER..((Teresa Watkins-Brown))"Is it worth the division?"((Terolyn Watson))"We weren’t even allowed on thisside of town at that time."BUT THE CITY ATTORNEY SAYS HENEEDS MORE TIME...((Grant Alley//Fort Myers CiAttorney))"I would recommend that you nottake action this tonight...wanto come up with options topresent to them at a laterdate."THE CITY COUNCIL HAS GIVEN THECITY ATTORNEY AND MANAGERDAYS TO SPEAK WITH THOSE WTAKE CARE OF THE WITH THOSE WHOTAKE CARE OF THE STATUE TO TALKABOUT NEXT STEPS FOR IT.HE WILL ALSO HAVE TO BRING THECOUNCIL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WHATTHE COUNCIL *SHOULD DO WITH THESTATUE ONCE AND FOR ALL.IN THE MEANTIME THEY DON’T