FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - Broward County officials have removed a statue of the county’s namesake from the courthouse due to the former leader’s past as a segregationist.

Concerns were raised about the statue of former Florida governor Napoleon Bonaparte Broward after critics revealed a 1907 speech he made to state lawmakers.

In the speech, Broward advocated for segregation and made other racist comments.

County officials removed the statue overnight Wednesday and relocated it to a storage area, out of public view, while they figure out its long-term future.

Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join our Newsletter for the latest news right to your inbox