The Latest: Wisconsin mayor removing Confederate memorials

MADISON, Wis. – The Latest on the removal of Confederate monuments at a Wisconsin cemetery (all times local):

1:40 p.m.

A mayor says a plaque honouring Confederate soldiers has been removed from a cemetery in traditionally liberal Madison, Wisconsin, and a second memorial is also coming down.

Madison Mayor Paul Soglin announced the memorials’ removal Thursday, saying the Civil War was “a defence of the deplorable practice of slavery.”

The plaque removed Wednesday is called “Confederate Rest” and lauds “the valiant” Confederate soldiers buried at the Forest Hill Cemetery.

Soglin says the second monument lists names of Confederate soldiers buried at the cemetery and will require heavy equipment to remove. He says another marker with their names will be reinstalled but without language celebrating the Confederate insurrection.

Soglin’s decision comes as cities nationwide are removing Confederacy-related monuments following last weekend’s deadly confrontations at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

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12:10 p.m.

A mayor says monuments to Confederate soldiers are being removed from a cemetery in traditionally liberal Madison, Wisconsin, because the Civil War was “a defence of the deplorable practice of slavery.”

Madison Mayor Paul Soglin made the announcement in a statement Thursday. It isn’t clear whether the monuments have already been removed.

The mayor says removing the monuments at the Forest Hill Cemetery will produce “minimal or no disruption to the cemetery itself.” Soglin’s decision comes as cities nationwide are removing Confederacy-related monuments following last weekend’s deadly confrontations at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

In his statement, Soglin also calls the Civil War “an act of insurrection and treason.” He says another Confederate monument in the city is being removed, but provided no details.