Jerry Carr: Still honoring Saunders

Regarding the May 31 news article “University renames Saunders Hall”: The UNC Board of Trustees voted to change the name of Saunders Hall. They acknowledged that the Board of Trustees erred in 1920 by citing Saunders’ leadership of the KKK when they dedicated the building to him.

This link to the KKK is the one very important historic fact that matters when it comes to Saunders. It appears that this critical fact will be omitted from a new plaque to be dedicated to Saunders on the building. This would be a dastardly act, a whitewash that would make the trustees of 1920 smile.

A statement on the plaque will read, “We honor and remember all those who have suffered injustices at the hands of those who would deny them life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” To whom does “all” refer? There would be no ambiguity for the trustees of 1920 or for that matter for their contemporary compatriots.

The statement honors the Confederacy, which suffered the “injustice” of the “Northern War of Aggression.” If we know the South, we know this is true.

I think I hear a hearty laugh from the trustees of 1920 and some rebel yells as well.

This story was originally published June 3, 2015 at 5:51 PM with the headline "Jerry Carr: Still honoring Saunders."