The Circle of Humanity: Monuments for Unity and Remembrance

We are grateful for the existing memorial, a stone block which was inspired by Celia Sher, whose family members were Holocaust victims. That memorial will continue to be meaningful in a new location, but we believe Charlotte deserves a more prominent and impactful public Holocaust memorial to serve as a community site for education and inspiration.

Bringing these two memorials together underscores the history and reality of oppression and prejudice that Blacks and Jews share, as well as the opportunity to shape a better world together. The Circle of Humanity will visually reinforce the importance of unity as we come together to fight hatred and injustice of all kinds. Blacks and Jews in the U.S., and in Charlotte, have a history of alliance and unity that this memorial will commemorate. This project aims to honor the enduring legacies of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Holocaust victims, inspiring reflection, education, and a commitment to justice and human rights. The unity we seek, the collective remembrance of our painful history, and the powerful partnerships we have created to shape a better future are needed now more than ever.

We have had conversations with the current developers, who have an agreement with the County to develop Marshall Park as part of Phase II of their development. They strongly support our vision for the Circle of Humanity, and we are confident that if development proceeds, they will work with us to preserve the monument. Mecklenburg County’s vision has been to leave one-third of the area as a park, so the memorials would continue to have a space there. If necessary, the monuments can be temporarily moved when development commences (in 7 + years) and returned to Marshall Park. The plans around developing Marshall Park continue to be uncertain and it is also possible the entire area may remain a park. While we recognize we may need to be flexible if development proceeds, we believe the monuments will have a meaningful permanent home. With development uncertain and more than 7 years away, we want to proceed with this monument as soon as possible.

Our budget for the project includes an endowment to fund ongoing maintenance of the memorials and the supporting online educational material.

We are currently in the process of raising funds for the memorial from donors. While Mecklenburg County is an important partner in this process and will own the monuments, the county is not responsible for funding.

The statue will remain in its current location and will be enhanced with new landscaping, maintenance, and educational resources.