A Raleigh man, unapologetic about his actions, redressed the North Carolina Historical Commission for not being more upset when state monuments were dressed in Carolina Hurricanes' jerseys.
"Do you think Andrew Jackson, sitting majestically on his horse while wearing a Hurricanes jersey was awe-inspiring and thought-provoking?" Davis Jones said to the commission Monday. "No, it was a distraction and derailed the purpose of the monument to both educate and honor."
Jones, 49, was issued a citation for injuring the personal property of the state May 24 when he removed jerseys from statues on Union Square. The statues were dressed up for the Hurricanes playoff run.
Hurricanes staff then removed the rest of the jerseys.
The Hurricanes, who own the jerseys, decided not the pursue the case. The charges against Jones were dropped Friday, said State Capitol Police Chief Scott Hunter.
Commission Chairman Jerry Cashion said he was taking steps to ensure that it didn't happen again.
"I share the outrage over the desecration of the monuments," he said.
Hurricanes spokesman Howard Sadel said the team would probably choose not to adorn the statues with jerseys in the future.
Jones, who said he likes the Hurricanes, did not apologize.
"I considered it not only a responsibility, but a duty to go down there and take those jerseys off," he said.
The statues also were adorned in jerseys in 2002. But the commission was not contacted either time for permission as statutes require, said Joe Newberry, public information officer for the Department of Cultural Resources.
Jones said state Administration Secretary Britt Cobb gave the Hurricanes permission to put up the jerseys.
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Information from: The News & Observer, http://www.newsobserver.com
