Controversial statue to be removed from Louisville Free Public Library on Dec. 11

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A controversial statue is being removed from outside the Louisville Free Public Library's downtown branch.

According to a news release, preparations are being made on Monday for the removal of the George Dennison Prentice statue, which will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 11.

The move comes at the behest of Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, who made the decision in August to remove both the George Dennison Prentice statue, as well as a statue of John Breckenridge Castleman. The decision came after a June 30 report issued by the Public Art and Monuments Advisory Committee, which had been created to, "develop a guiding set of principles for evaluating existing and future public art and monuments in the city."

"Mr. Prentice used his position as founder and long-time editor of the Louisville Journal to advocate an anti-Catholic, anti-immigrant message that led to the 1855 Bloody Monday riot where at least 22 people were killed," said Mayor Fischer, in a statement. "His statue is especially inappropriate outside the library, a place that encourages education, inclusiveness and compassion."

Fischer has suggested that both statues be relocated to Cave Hill Cemetery, where both men are buried -- but the cemetery declined to have the Prentice statue moved there.

Discussions are still ongoing on whether the Castleman statue can be moved there after it is removed from its existing Cherokee Triangle site.