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County Commission Votes To Move Confederate Statue "Old Joe"

The controversial Confederate statue in downtown Gainesville, "Old Joe," might finally find a new home.

The Alachua County Commission voted 4 to 1 Tuesday to donate the statue to the Untied Daughters of the Confederacy after an afternoon filled with protesters voicing their opinions both for and against the statue's move.

Protesters first appealed to the county and Gainesville to remove the statue, which the United Daughters of the Conderacy actually had built in 1904, more than two years ago. Since initial calls for its removal, the Matheson Museum emerged as a new home for Old Joe, but then could not take the statue earlier this year.

The United Daughters of the Confederacy will have 60 days to decide if it wants the statue and would have to pay for its removal.

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