Robert E. Lee Statue to be Removed from Richmond
Virginia governor to announce removal of Robert E. Lee statue
By Associated Press
June 3, 2020 | 5:57pm
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RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam is expected to announce plans Thursday for the removal of an iconic statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from Richmond’s prominent Monument Avenue, a senior administration official told The Associated Press.
The governor will direct the statue to be moved off its massive pedestal and put into storage while his administration seeks input on a new location, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to speak before the governor’s announcement.
The move comes amid turmoil across the nation and around the world over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a Minneapolis officer pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for several minutes, even after he stopped moving.
Floyd’s death has sparked outrage over issues of racism and police brutality and prompted a new wave of Confederate memorial removals in which even some of their longtime defenders have decided to remove them.
The Lee statue is one of five Confederate monuments along Monument Avenue in Richmond, the former capital of the Confederacy. It has been the target of vandalism during protests in recent days over Floyd’s death. The base was covered this week with graffiti, including messages that say “end police brutality” and “stop white supremacy.”
It was not immediately clear when the statue would be removed.
Other tragedies in recent years have prompted similar nationwide soul searching over Confederate monuments, which some people regard as inappropriate tributes to the South’s slave-holding past. Others compare monument removals to erasing history.
Confederate memorials began coming down after a white supremacist killed nine black people at a Bible study in a church in South Carolina in 2015 and then again after a violent rally of white supremacists in Charlottesville in 2017.
The Lee monument was erected in 1890, decades after the end of the Civil War.
Also on Wednesday, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney announced plans to remove the other Confederate monuments along Monument Avenue, which include statues of Confederate President Jefferson Davis and Confederate Gens. Stonewall Jackson and J.E.B. Stuart. Those statues sit on city land, unlike the Lee statue, which is on state property.
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Maybe Northam can get dressed up back in Blackface, to attend the removal.
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Northam is a perfect representation of today's DEMOCRAT party: Despises the US Constitution, wants to rewrite history, kill babies, and does little or nothing as his voting base loots and pillages his own cities. 0 -
The area of Richmond where the memorial is located is a cesspool of crime and drug use. No one goes there anymore, especially after dark. Governor Mengele is pandering to his crybaby leftist base, who were quick to give him a pass for his racist past. 0 -
If a Consevative was caught in a picture being in Black Face, their would have been Riots for his removal. That Northam was given a pass, shows the double standards in play.
The statues should be re-located to the Civil War Museum (The Armory?) located in Richmond, where they can be given due/proper respect. Been there a couple times.
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this is a prime example to let the blacks get what they want for no reason. Of course some of them cannot read a text book in school to know the history. 3 -
In 1861 President Lincoln offered command of the US Army to Robert E. Lee. But Lee said he could not raise his sword against his beloved home state, Virginia.
Today Virginia defaces his monument and destroys its own history.0 -
robert e lee had more integrity and honor than anyone now...bet the school history books (if they teach any ) will be altered beyond truth 3 -
Robert E. Lee stood for freedom and independence from tyranny. He was on the side of the Declaration of Independence, and of the US Constitution.
The fact that he fought in a war of independence for a government founded primarily for the preservation of the enslavement of human beings needs to be recognized in the context of the day and not through the distortion lens of history.
It is instructive to note that even though his is the face one thinks of when reflecting upon the Confederate States of America, history almost always records him as a good and decent man.3 -
Three days of riots and no National Guard, but I bet you Northram will deploy the national Guard for the removal of Robert E Lee. He declared a State of Emergency in anticipation of Lobby day, yet crickets while violence and crime occurs on the streets of Richmond. He's such a POS 9 -
Unbelievable what's happening in this country,.....I don't even recognize it anymore. 6 -
I may be showing my age, but I was taught the civil war was fought for the preservation of states rights. As you state, state rights is the principle tenet of the US CONs.Don McManus said:Robert E. Lee stood for freedom and independence from tyranny. He was on the side of the Declaration of Independence, and of the US Constitution.
The fact that he fought in a war of independence for a government founded primarily for the preservation of the enslavement of human beings needs to be recognized in the context of the day and not through the distortion lens of history.
It is instructive to note that even though his is the face one thinks of when reflecting upon the Confederate States of America, history almost always records him as a good and decent man.
Have read enough old books, journals, and other writings to confirm preservation of states rights was the main cause.
Certainly slavery was and still is evil and morally wrong, but when history gets distorted and past evils erased, its inevitable history can repeat itself.0 -
Which Historical Site Is going to be NEXT ? Why do the Politicos decide what happens to a monument rather than the public ? Being Politically correct in this Country has gone to far. It sickens me that this Country has to cater to one particular Ethnic Group on nearly everything or the Issue of Race has to rear it's UGLY head (regardless of opinion). 3 -
Leftists do not and never will understand the concept of honoring your enemies for their bravery and conviction. Nor that of the necessity for reconciliation in order to have a functional society. It was for these reasons that Lee was honored. The Left needs to destroy those concepts as well as to undermine our very history if it is to gain sway over our lives. 0 -
They wont.smartoldguy said:Leftists do not and never will understand the concept of honoring your enemies for their bravery and conviction. Nor that of the necessity for reconciliation in order to have a functional society. It was for these reasons that Lee was honored. The Left needs to destroy those concepts as well as to undermine our very history if it is to gain sway over our lives.
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