Some referred to the late Dearborn Mayor Orville Hubbard as the most outspoken segregationist north of the Mason-Dixon line. Some still cite him as an example of a diehard racist in public office.
Now, in wake of the Charlottesville white nationalist rally, some are calling for the removal of a publicly displayed statue of Hubbard, who was mayor from 1942-8, reports Perry Farrell of the Detroit Free Press. He died in 1982 at age 79.
Christopher Zatzke, an East Lansing resident who works at Michigan State University as a research assistant in plant biology ,and has friends who live in Dearborn, believes the statue should disappear.
“Dearborn now serves as a beacon of diversity and tolerance for our entire nation,’’ Zatzke wrote in an email to Mayor John O'Reilly and several members of the City Council, the Freep reports. “Do the right thing and takle it down now!’’
In March, the statue was moved from city hall to a Dearborn Historical Museum lawn at Garrison and Brady. This month, it was moved to a less conspicuous spot alongside the landmark McFadden Ross House. The museum eventually wants to put it inside.
The mayor issues a statement:
"The Hubbard statue does not reflect who we are today and who we intend to be. That is why it was placed in an historical museum setting. ...
"I recognize that all of us who are distressed over the violence and hatefulness that has risen up in other areas of our country want to make sure that our community continues to send a welcoming message.
"Working with concerned residents, we just moved the statue to a less prominent place within our museum campus, and will soon complete a sign that provides context to his time in office."
Attorney Majed Moughni, 47, tells the Freep that the mayor doesn't wan to remove the statue because he might offend some supporters.
► See video below from September 2015:
