Hall of Famer and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Tony Dungy has helped raise funds to have a Confederate monument removed from a downtown Tampa courthouse. Now, after Dungy asked his former team for help with the effort, the Buccaneers have contributed as well.
The effort to raise funds for the monument removal began in earnest after Hillsborough County commissioners said that the statue would only be removed if $140,000 in private money could be raised to cover the cost. After announcing on Twitter that he would put up $5,000 of his own money, Dungy then challenged the Bucs, as well as the Tampa Bay Rays and Lightning to chip in.
All three Tampa teams contributed and announced today that they had successfully reached the project goal of $140,000.
The statement said, “Recognizing that this monument does not reflect the values of our community, in collaboration with the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, our organizations have dedicated funds to assist in moving the statue from the public space in front of the courthouse. Now more than ever before, we must stand united and committed to diversity and inclusion as we all attempt to heal from the tragedy in Charlottesville.”
Now, racism will never be a problem again.