Plan to relocate Confederate statues in Lexington approved

The Fayette-Urban County Council Thursday approved a proposal to remove and relocate two Confederate statues from the position outside the Old Courthouse.

Mayor Jim Gray announced the plan to relocate the statues of John C. Breckinridge and John Hunt Morgan on Saturday, after violence broke out at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, resulting in the death of 32 year old woman and several others injured.

Council members had to amend rules Thursday to have a second reading including the final vote on the measure. The resolution was approved unanimously.

The statues will not be moved immediately. Mayor Gray has 30 days to recommend a new location for the statues to Council.

The plan will then be submitted to the state's Military Heritage Commission who has the final say.

The Commission's next meeting is scheduled for November, but the city could ask for a special meeting to be held earlier.