Florida

FSU President Approves Plan to Relocate Statue of Former Slave Owner on Campus

What to Know

  • President John Thrasher said on Tuesday that the statue of Francis Eppes ill be removed and relocated elsewhere on campus.
  • Student groups voiced opposition to the Eppes statue because the grandson of Thomas Jefferson was a slave owner.

Florida State University President John Thrasher has accepted a pair of recommendations by a university panel tasked with reviewing statues and recognitions throughout campus.

Thrasher said on Tuesday that the statue of Francis Eppes, which is located near the school's main administration building, will be removed and relocated elsewhere on campus. Student groups voiced opposition to the Eppes statue because he was a slave owner. Eppes was the grandson of Thomas Jefferson.

Thrasher also announced he will seek approval from the Florida Legislature to remove of the name of B.K. Roberts from the College of Law building.

Roberts, a former state Supreme Court justice, authored a decision that blocked Virgil Hawkins from attending the University of Florida law school. Hawkins was denied admission due to his race.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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