Thursday Throw Down: Petition calls for statute of Snooty the manatee to replace monument to Confederate vets

A petition is circulating to replace a monument erected to remember veterans from the Confederacy with a statue of Snooty, the world’s oldest manatee in Bradenton, Florida.

So far, 7,700 people have signed the petition set up after Snooty’s death.

The manatee, who was a part of the South Florida Museum, died after getting stuck in a door panel.

Snooty, the world’s oldest-known manatee, dies after getting stuck in panel door

Snooty was almost 70 years old. A plan to erect a statue in Snooty’s memory is being proposed to replace a memorial to veterans who fought on the Confederacy during the American Civil War.

That monument, erected in 1924, stands in front of Bradenton, which is part of Manatee County.

The petitioner, Anthony Pusateri, says he was deeply affected by Snooty’s death.

To honor Snooty’s legacy as a positive icon in Bradenton, I propose that the negative symbol of racism and oppression that is the Confederate monument be relocated and replaced with a statue of Snooty the Manatee. By doing so, the Confederate monument could possibly be moved to a museum (or other more appropriate location) out of everyday public eye and a more positive symbol then take its place.

The petition has already received 7,700 signatures and needs to reach 10,000 in order to be submitted.

The South Florida Museum which closed after Snooty’s death last weekend has now reopened.