The Future of the Market House May End Up in the Hands of the DOJ
posted by Victoria Walker | February 12, 2021 | In NewsThe Department of Justice and Fayetteville’s Community leaders hosted a closed meeting on February 5 to begin determining the future steps for Fayetteville’s Market House. The Market house which was built in 1832 has served as many things in Fayetteville’s history, and is currently a controversial topic.
Until 2016, the Market House even served as the logo for the city. The Market House has also served as the city’s town hall. This is also the only historic landmark that resides in Cumberland County of the 40 landmarks North Carolina has.
In recent years, outrage has erupted over the Market House’s past of serving as a market of enslaved people. The call for its removal completely once again came to light after the death of George Floyd and the followed protest in March 2019.
According to Mayor Mitch Colvin, the Department of justice came to help Fayettveille with the racial divide surrounded by the Market House, as reported by WRAL. The DOJ has a special team that helps cities with racial problems that may occur within. The Mayor of Fayetteville saying he saw the coming help from the Department of Justice as a “win-win situation.”
The DOJ made clear that they will need time to talk to community leaders as well as activists to come to a solution that will satisfy everyone in the community.
This controversial issue has caused much divisiveness within the community as half are calling for the removal of the market house all together and many others are calling for the Market House to be repurposed and persevered as history.
The hope is to end any racial division within the community the Market House is causing. The Mayor and the DOJ are very hopeful for a positive and peaceful future no matter the decision made for the future of the Market House. They ensure any decision will satisfy both sides of this controversial landmark.
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