Controversial Robert E. Lee Statue Removed in Virginia’s Capital
The Robert E. Lee statue in Richmond, Virginia, that stirred up controversy has officially been taken down. The crowd cheered as the statue was lowered from its pedestal Wednesday morning. Lawrence West, founder of BLM…
The Robert E. Lee statue in Richmond, Virginia, that stirred up controversy has officially been taken down.
The crowd cheered as the statue was lowered from its pedestal Wednesday morning.
Lawrence West, founder of BLM RVA, told CNN, “Robert E. Lee standing here on Monument Avenue is very symbolic to the Confederate mindset, you know the levels of oppression that people feel on a regular day-to-day basis.”
He added, “With the coming down of the monument it is also a part of coming down with those types of ideals. It brings some closure to the conversation, ‘It’s OK to be racist’.”
The removal comes just days after the Supreme Court of Virginia ruled the state can remove the statue, as IJR reported.
Attorney General Mark Herring reacted to the ruling on Twitter.
“We have won the case to remove the Robert E. Lee statue from Monument Avenue. The Supreme Court of Virginia has dissolved all injunctions and the statue may now come down. A big win for a more inclusive Commonwealth!” Herring said.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) said the “ruling is a tremendous win for the people of Virginia. Our public memorials are symbols of who we are and what we value. When we honor leaders who fought to preserve a system that enslaved human beings, we are honoring a lost cause that has burdened Virginia for too many years.”
He also attended the removal of the statue.
“This has a long time coming, part of the healing process for Virginia to move forward, to embrace diversity, to be a welcoming state, to be inclusive,” Northam said.