A controversial statue of General Robert E. Lee in Richmond, Virginia, will be removed on Wednesday. The state’s governor, Democrat Ralph Northam, has made the announcement.
It is the largest Confederation statue in the entire state, erected over 130 years ago. The statue itself, with Lee sitting on a horse, is already over six meters. The pedestal on which it stands is almost twice as high. The monument was built as a tribute to Lee, who fought for the southern states (the Confederacy) in the 19th century to preserve slavery.
The Black Lives Matter movement also sparked opposition to Confederate statues, and several have already been taken down or taken down. After the death of the black George Floyd, due to police brutality, there were large protests at the statue of Lee in Richmond.
Lawsuits against removal
Governor Northam already unveiled plans to remove the statue more than a year ago, but several lawsuits against it have delayed that. Last week, the state Supreme Court ruled that the monument can be removed.
“Our public memorials are a symbol of who we are and what we care about,” Northam said after the court’s ruling. “When we honor leaders who fought for a system that enslaved people, we are honoring a lost cause that has burdened Virginia for too many years.”
Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney also thinks it’s time for the statue to disappear. “We are a diverse, open and welcoming city and our symbols should reflect that reality.” Several other Confederate statues in the city have already been removed.
There are also opponents of removing Lee within the anti-racism movement. They point out that the statue has become a symbol of the protest movement that erupted after George Floyd’s death.
It is still unclear what will happen to the statue. The city consults the inhabitants for this.
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