A petition on Change.org asking the City of Anderson to replace the Anderson County Confederate Monument in South Carolina with a statue of late actor Chadwick Boseman has already garnered over 24,810 signatures.
South Carolina law actually prohibits the removal of Confederate monuments across the state, so what the fans of the late actor are petitioning for is a change in law followed by the placement of a new statue dedicated to the former Anderson resident.
"Earlier this year efforts were made by local residents to remove a confederate monument located in the town square of downtown Anderson. Unfortunately, this effort gained no traction due to current South Carolina law," reads the petition, penned by one DeAndre Weaver. "Many will agree that Mr. Boseman is without question worthy of such a monument in his home town, but I would like to go a step further. I believe that Mr. Boseman is worthy of the spot that is currently occupied in the town square."
The page also calls back to some of Boseman's most iconic roles, from his portrayals of historical figures of the magnitude of Thurgood Marshall, James Brown and Jackie Robinson to his critically acclaimed role as T'Challa, the king of Wakanda, in Black Panther.
Weaver also mentions Boseman's community efforts, including the time he "took it upon himself to rent out a theater in his home town of Anderson, South Carolina, to show [Black Panther] for free so that young boys and girls could be inspired by the film without the financial barrier."
The actor passed away last week at the age of 43 following a four-year battle with colon cancer. The news shook up the Hollywood community as a whole, prompting fellow actors and others in entertainment to share emotional tributes.
"I wish we had more time," fellow actor and friend Michael B. Jordan wrote in an Instagram post. "One of the last times we spoke, you said we were forever linked and now the truth of that means more to me than ever. Since nearly the beginning of my career, starting with All My Children when I was 16 years old, you paved the way for me. [...] I'm gonna miss your honesty, your generosity, your sense of humor and incredible gifts. I'll miss the gift of sharing space with you in scenes. [...] I'm dedicating the rest of my days to live the way you did."
Robert Downey Jr., who starred alongside Boseman in Infinity War, also fondly remembered the late actor. "At the end of the third Avengers, the Infinity War, we all kind of lose together," Downey Jr. said on a Sunday night special on ABC dedicated to Boseman's career and legacy. "And I remember it was one of those few days that all of the Avengers were together. It was just the way he walked on set and the immense success that had occurred, and rightfully so, with Black Panther and he was just in this kind of stratus of his own. But always, always humble, always hard working, always a smile on his face. Now, looking back, all the more I realize what an incredibly graceful human being he was."
You can sign the Change.org petition demanding the simultaneous repeal of the South Carolina law and the erection of a monument dedicated to Boseman right here.
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