They thought they were defacing a Confederate memorial.

Instead, protesters who marched from downtown Atlanta to Piedmont Park Sunday night damaged a statue dedicated to reconciliation.

The Peace Monument will survive, but, after last weekend’s tragic events in Charlottesville, other symbols of Atlanta’s Confederate heritage may not be so lucky.

Petition circles to remove Confederate Memorial in Decatur.

Mayor Kasim Reed said Monday he'll decide soon whether to rebrand an Atlanta road. Activists have also set their sights on a statue in Decatur. Those decisions may very well set off a chain reaction that could transform the city's landscape.

For more on this story about the battle between the past and present, visit myajc.com.

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U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., speaks during a town hall on Friday, April 25, 2025, in Atlanta at the Cobb County Civic Center. (Jason Allen/Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Credit: Jason Allen/AJC