SALISBURY-- As the debate over Confederate symbols heats up across the Carolinas, many people in Salisbury are asking city leaders to consider changing its Confederate statue downtown.
This confederate statue has been a part of Salisbury's downtown for more than a century, but now many people say it's not appropriate anymore.
“It symbolizes racial terror and when you look at the history of Salisbury, there was an epidemic of racial terror and horror on black people in this community,” said Anthony Smith, a local pastor.
Smith says the statue is offensive, especially after the Charleston church massacre last month.
That's why more than a dozen people came to the Salisbury City Council meeting Tuesday, hoping the city will hear their concerns over the statue.
“City council, lead us in this conversation in our community. No longer can we be silent about this,” said Smith.
“We definitely protect individual's right to demonstrate and exercise right to free speech,” said Rory Collins, Salisbury Police Chief.
But there are laws.
Salisbury Police Chief Collins says you need a permit from police to hold a demonstration.
It's a law he's now enforcing after a few protests broke out this week.
“We are monitoring the location of the statue, yes,” said Collins.
Time Warner Cable News spoke with the Salisbury Mayor and he didn't want to go on camera, but he did say the city is taking these concerns seriously, but he's not sure the city can do anything about the statue right now.”
“We know that this is an issue,” said the mayor.
The city council did not hear from the public Tuesday.
But there will be a public comment period at the next meeting.
And that's when Smith and many others plan to return to start the conversation on whether a change is necessary.
“Let's have a collective voice about this symbol and maybe have something that represents all of Salisbury,” said Smith.
Public comment is welcome at the next meeting on July 21.