Wise petition calls for Confederate monument to be replaced with statue of manatee
Today a petition is circulating to replace a Confederate monument in Bradenton, Florida, with a monument for Snooty the manatee, a beloved local resident who passed away Sunday at the age of 69. (He was believed to be the world's oldest manatee.)
The current monument is located near Snooty's former home in Bradenton. And Anthony Pusateri, who created the petition, thinks Snooty would be a much better symbol for the area.
SEE ALSO: Stubbs the cat, longtime mayor of an Alaska town, dies at 20
"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," the petition reads.
Pusateri suggests the current monument be relocated to a museum "out of everyday public eye."
At the time of writing, the petition had been signed more than 5,000 times. People — especially those who think Snooty was a good and nice boy, and who didn't? — are singing its praises.
"Snooty did 100,000,000x more for this community than the Confederacy," wrote one supporter.
"Snooty would have wanted it this way," said another.
The petition is also picking up momentum on Twitter, a longtime hub for viral manatee fans.
PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION TO REPLACE A CONFEDERATE COURTHOUSE STATUE WITH A STATUE OF A BELOVED MANATEE https://t.co/AqQm9Cyxts AND RETWEET
— Mark Joseph Stern (@mjs_DC) July 25, 2017
Um manatees>>>>>racist participation trophies any day! Please sign and share! https://t.co/sL98q2Vu5V via @Change
— yung nugget (@veryann0yed) July 25, 2017
A petition is circulating to replace a local Confederate statue with one of Snooty the manatee. https://t.co/7jfIEdG6Lh
— Jimmy Geurts (@JimmyGeurts) July 24, 2017
i've never supported a petition more in my life https://t.co/is9NpGItJ4
— Alex Press (@alexnpress) July 25, 2017
In case you were interested in crying, here's a memorial for Snooty — appropriately composed of mostly lettuce. Indeed, he is a symbol of hope and love and vegetarianism. Nice. Even in death, you're doing amazing, Snooty.
WATCH: 'World's saddest polar bear' gets offered new home in U.K.
