A giant statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee was removed in Richmond, Virginia, Wednesday, more than a year after the order from Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam.
The 12-ton, six-story monument on Monument Avenue, erected in the state capital in 1890, was deconstructed nearly one week after the Supreme Court of Virginia cleared the way for the removal following several legal battles.
Northam ordered the removal of the state-owned statue in June 2020, amid nationwide protests against symbols of racism and oppression that erupted following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis while in police custody.
"This is an important step in showing who we are and what we value as a Commonwealth," Northam said in a statement.
The removal is "extremely complex," the state’s Department of General Services said, requiring "coordination with multiple entities to ensure the safety of everyone involved." The removal process began Tuesday evening with crews installing protective fencing on the streets near the monument. (Read more)
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