The statue portraying a Confederate soldier has stood in downtown Graham since 1914. Since then, it’s been the subject of controversy and protests, and most recently, a lawsuit. A lawsuit was filed in 2022 by the NAACP, NAACP Alamance County branch, and other groups against Alamance County and the Alamance County Board of Commissioners, arguing that the monument is a source of pain.They also argued it was a safety issue after multiple demonstrations were held around the statue. A fence was put up around it in 2021. The North Carolina State Court of Appeals ruled on March 19, 2024, that county leaders do not have the authority to move the Confederate monument in Alamance County, even if they wanted to.The ruling is that leaders do not have the authority to move it or remove it based on the North Carolina monument protection law.This law makes it illegal to relocate or remove any monument on public property without approval from the State Historical Commission.Reaction to the ruling: “I think that monument should be here forever," Tim Jones, a Guilford County resident, said. Another resident for the statue staying up, Fred Vehaun, said, “it’s just a marker, that’s all it is. It’s just the way it is. It’s been there forever, so I think it should stay." Jones also said, “I think it’s wonderful that we honor our history and our ancestors.”On the other side, people want it to be taken down. Jerlene Harris, an Alamance County resident, said, "Why keep it up? It don’t need to be up.” “They like to say it’s southern pride, heritage and as a black woman, black American woman, I look at it as nothing but a symbol of hate and racism,” Harris said.Reverend Greg Drumwright, a faith leader and founder of Justice for the Next Generation said he was very disappointed to hear about the ruling. “The presence of these monuments are symbols of black oppression and the confederate south’s fight for the continuation of slavery," Drumwright said.Drumwright protested for the removal of the statue in the past. He said, “As long as America denies its racist past, it will never be a safe place for the future of equality and equity for everyone that considers itself an American patriot.”Drumwright said he would like to see a monument of Alamance County's first African American elected official, Wyatt Outlaw, who was lynched in 1870 where the Confederate monument stands now, to be placed there. The lawsuit was filed against Alamance County and the Alamance County Board of Commissioners. WXII reached out to them for comment, and their attorney responded saying, "We are aware of this ruling but have no comment on it at this time." The Alamance County Branch of the NAACP sent a statement to WXII on the ruling. The statement reads in part, "In response to this ruling, the matter now rests with our Legal Redress Committee, which will work in consultation with our attorneys and other relevant parties to determine the appropriate next steps, if any to be recommended." The statement goes on to say, "While we are disappointed by the court's ruling, we remain steadfast in our commitment to justice and equality for all residents of Alamance County."