Stone Mountain Memorial Association Plans to Request up to $1,000,000 of Public Taxpayer Funding to Maintain World’s Largest Confederate Memorial

DATE: December 16, 2020

CONTACT: Gabrielle Rogers, media@stonemountainaction.org

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA - Financial documents obtained by the Stone Mountain Action Coalition (SMAC)  from the Stone Mountain Memorial Association (SMMA) reveal that the SMMA  plans to apply for up to $1 million in direct funding from the Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission (GSFIC) to maintain the Stone Mountain Park (the “Park”). According to SMMA’s own website, however, it claims to be a State of Georgia authority that is, “self-supporting and receives no tax dollars.” Our review of SMMA’s financials show this to be an inaccurate representation to the citizens of Georgia.

On November 16, 2020, the SMMA approved its 2021 budget that included a net loss after depreciation of $4,777,638. This budget did not include the SMMA’s proposal to spend up to $563,000 to clean the Park’s Confederate carving. The SMMA’s financials, coupled with the ongoing impact of COVID-19 and its management company’s decision to terminate its contract citing protests and racial division, suggest the Park is in serious financial jeopardy.

It is important to note this is not the only instance where Georgia taxpayers have been used to fund the state-sponsored Confederate memorial.

In 1958 in defiance to the civil rights movement, the outspoken segregationist and Georgia Governor Marvin Griffin purchased the mountain for $1.5 million. After Griffin led the state’s purchase of the mountain, by 1970 the state had spent $24 million ($126+ million in 2020 dollars) using public, taxpayer money and required it by law to serve as a Confederate memorial.

In recent years, the SMMA has also been using approximately $16 million from Georgia General Obligation Bonds (which do not have to be repaid) to renovate and maintain the Park’s hotel and campgrounds.  

Georgia taxpayers also continue to pay the additional law enforcement costs needed to keep the Park secure from the heavily-armed rallies and protests that take place at the Park, including the August 15, 2020 planned white supremacy rally that resulted in the Park’s closure and deployment of the Georgia National Guard.

About the Stone Mountain Action Coalition

The Stone Mountain Action Coalition is an advocacy network of concerned citizens, political leaders, community organizations, faith-based groups and businesses who are dedicated to supporting constructive solutions and ideas that reflect a new, shared vision for the Stone Mountain Park. The Coalition is advocating for short and long-term changes to help build a path forward by developing a community-driven approach to transform the park into a more inclusive, and economically sustainable destination.

For more information visit: www.stonemountainaction.org

Media contact: Gabrielle Rogers, media@stonemountainaction.org