Confederate Statue Removed In Charlottesville, Virginia

Nearly four years after violence broke out at the infamous “Unite the Right” rally in 2017, the Robert E. Lee monument that helped spark the white supremacist event in Charlottesville, Virginia, was removed from its stone pedestal today. Spectators by the dozens lined the blocks surrounding the park. The Associated Press reports a cheer went up as the statue came down. Additionally, a statue of Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson was removed. Sources say the statues will be stored in a secure location until the City Council decides what to do with them. You’ll recall Heather Heyer, a peaceful counter-protester, was killed in the violence. At the time, Donald Trump garnered criticism by insisting there was “blame on both sides.”

And there it goes: Charlottesville VA’s Robert E. Lee statue has been removed. pic.twitter.com/qI4xhnIqJ3

— The Recount (@therecount) July 10, 2021

Robert E. Lee’s last ride through streets of Charlottesville, this morning: #Getty pic.twitter.com/eQ0KWXEfXi

— Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) July 10, 2021

Work began today to remove statues of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee and Gen. “Stonewall” Jackson, nearly 4 years after the violent “Unite the Right” rally of Trump’s “very fine people”—one of whom killed Heather Heyer, a peaceful counterprotester. https://t.co/6j7rmHs2GH

— Dena Grayson, MD, PhD (@DrDenaGrayson) July 10, 2021