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Push to return John C.Calhoun statue reignites debate over history, race and public memory in South Carolina.Push to return John C.Calhoun statue reignites debate over history, race and public memory in South Carolina CHARLESTON, S.C.(WCSC) — A renewed effort to return the statue of John C.Calhoun to public view is reopening a long-running debate in Charleston and across South Carolina over how history should be remembered, and who should be honored in public spaces.The monument stood in Marion Square for 124 years before the City of Charleston removed it in June 2020 amid nationwide protests following the murder of George Floyd.Now, supporters, including the American Heritage Association and Calhoun Monument Society, are raising money to place the statue back on public display, a move backed by Lt.Pamela Evette and opposed by critics who argue Calhoun’s legacy is inseparable from his defense of slavery.Evette recently attended a fundraiser featuring the statue, which has largely remained unseen since it was removed, and has voiced support for restoring it to public view.“I’ve always felt it’s really important to not try to erase history, cancel history, or change history,” Evette said.She argues historical monuments serve as reminders of the state’s past, even when that history includes painful chapters.“I think all history, the good to the bad, to everything in the middle, it is worth learning from.And if we don’t see our past, the good pieces and the bad pieces, we can never judge and be proud of how far we’ve come.” Evette said preserving history does not mean endorsing every aspect of a historical figure’s beliefs or actions.Pointing to the planned Robert Smalls monument at the South Carolina State House, she said all parts of history deserve recognition.“I’m not an advocate for putting a statue on every corner,” Evette said.“But what I’m saying is that’s history, and I’m for all the parts of history and am happy to be there for that groundbreaking.Cause you talk about a man born into slavery that overcame so much.What an inspiration.” Evette also expressed support for the recently passed “Heritage Act 2.0,” legislation that expands legal protections for monuments on public property.“I’m so excited that that’s on its way to the governor’s desk, expanding protections,” she said.According to Evette, the legislation would give preservation groups additional legal avenues to challenge efforts to remove monuments in the future.“Now these groups can come together and bring suit against anybody who’s trying to remove these monuments where they weren’t able to do that.” As for the Calhoun monument itself, Evette said fundraising efforts are underway to return it to public view.“They (the American Heritage Association) are actually raising money to actively put it back up so the public can view it,” she said.“Hopefully, getting it back up in a public area where, you know, people can talk about him and and talk about South Carolina and the important part we play in this 250th celebration.” Evette said questions about where the statue would ultimately be placed should be directed to the American Heritage Association, which has endorsed her gubernatorial campaign.Live 5 News made multiple attempts to contact the organization regarding the statue’s future location and timeline but did not receive a response.Pastor Thomas Dixon, who supported the monument’s removal in 2020, who also serves as the chairman of the Charleston County Democratic Party, argues the issue is not whether history should or should not be taught but whether Calhoun should be publicly honored.Calhoun was a South Carolina statesman.He was a congressman.He was a slave holder,” Dixon said.“He was a slave owner.He was a plantation master.For the slaves on his plantation, he would have been called Massa Calhoun.” Dixon said Calhoun’s historical significance cannot be separated from his public defense of slavery.“He himself painted the picture that slavery was a good.It was not evil, it was a good institution.” Dixon noted that while many prominent American founders owned slaves, Calhoun distinguished himself by openly arguing slavery should continue.He also criticized Evette’s support for restoring the monument.“For her to openly stand with the resurrection of this racist theory, this example of that racist life that gave so many people an excuse, why not to embrace the atrocities of slavery and thereby really remedy it?I understand myself personally why she was not the one to speak at South Carolina State’s commencement exercise.It makes perfectly good sense to me.” Dixon worries a public return of the statue could reignite tensions in Charleston.“My concern is that the public outcry, not only from the black community, but we have many correct thinking members of our community who are non-black, who understand the implications of that statue being present.” He argues historical figures should be taught fully and accurately rather than celebrated.“History should be taught in its entirety, the good, the bad, and the ugly.” A City of Charleston spokesperson previously told Live 5 News that removing the Calhoun statue, column, plaques and lettering in 2020 cost $136,637.The city also said private donors contributed $100,000 toward those expenses, reducing the taxpayer-funded portion of the removal to $36,637.The debate now comes as South Carolina lawmakers have approved legislation known as Heritage Act 2.0, which expands protections for monuments and memorials on public property.Supporters say the measure protects historical landmarks from politically motivated removal.Critics argue it limits communities’ ability to decide what belongs in their public spaces.Other Gubernatorial Candidates Respond Live 5 News contacted every candidate running in the governor’s race about whether they support returning the Calhoun statue to public view.Here are the responses of those who replied: “We cannot rewrite history.My view is Americans have learned from history and today we are more caring, less racist and more generous than any nation on earth.I fully support restoring our historical monuments and allowing the citizen to understand you cannot rewrite any parts of the past you may not like, but you can use history to rewrite the future.” - Rom Reddy, Republican Candidate for Governor “Yes, I support returning the statue for public viewing.South Carolina’s history is complex, and many of the individuals who helped shape our state were also slaveholders.I do not condone or agree with those views, but we cannot erase history or ignore the role these figures played in the foundation of our state." - Attorney General Alan Wilson “Ralph Norman supports having everyone learn South Carolina’s history, including both the good and bad.We don’t learn our history by trying to erase it.He opposed the removal of monuments in 2020 and remains opposed to it today.Our history should be preserved so future generations can learn from the people and events that shaped our state and nation.” - Brittany Yanick, Spokesperson for Ralph Norman Copyright 2026 WCSC.All rights reserved.