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Richmond Begins Removing Confederate Statues From Monument Avenue Richmond Removes Confederate Statues From Monument Avenue
(5 days later)
One hundred fifty-five years after Robert E. Lee surrendered, the former capital of the Confederacy is re-examining the painful legacy that it publicly memorialized on Monument Avenue.One hundred fifty-five years after Robert E. Lee surrendered, the former capital of the Confederacy is re-examining the painful legacy that it publicly memorialized on Monument Avenue.
The former capital, Richmond, Va., took down a statue of the Confederate general Stonewall Jackson on Wednesday after Mayor Levar Stoney used emergency powers to order its immediate removal, along with other Confederate statues on city property. A statue of Matthew Fontaine Maury, a Confederate naval officer and oceanographer, was removed on Thursday as a crowd of people watched. The former capital, Richmond, Va., took down a statue of the Confederate general Stonewall Jackson last Wednesday after Mayor Levar Stoney used emergency powers to order its immediate removal, along with other Confederate statues on city property. A statue of Matthew Fontaine Maury, a Confederate naval officer and oceanographer, was removed on Thursday as a crowd of people watched.
And early on Tuesday, crews moved heavy equipment and cranes into place near the statue of J.E.B. Stuart, the Confederate army officer. Workers took about three hours to lift the statue from the pedestal where it has stood since 1907.
The statues will be temporarily moved to an undisclosed location until the city government decides what to do with them, said James Nolan, a spokesman.
Mr. Stoney said in a video statement that his order was to “expedite the healing process for the city” as well as for public safety, after other statues had been torn down by protesters.Mr. Stoney said in a video statement that his order was to “expedite the healing process for the city” as well as for public safety, after other statues had been torn down by protesters.
“We have needed to turn this page for decades,” he said.“We have needed to turn this page for decades,” he said.
As part of the nationwide racial upheaval after George Floyd was killed by the Minneapolis police, symbols of the Confederacy and other criticized historical figures have been targeted by local governments and demonstrators.As part of the nationwide racial upheaval after George Floyd was killed by the Minneapolis police, symbols of the Confederacy and other criticized historical figures have been targeted by local governments and demonstrators.
In Richmond alone, people have toppled a Jefferson Davis statue; thrown one of Christopher Columbus into a lake; toppled the Howitzers Monument, which featured a Confederate artilleryman; and torn down a statue of William Carter Wickham, a Confederate general.In Richmond alone, people have toppled a Jefferson Davis statue; thrown one of Christopher Columbus into a lake; toppled the Howitzers Monument, which featured a Confederate artilleryman; and torn down a statue of William Carter Wickham, a Confederate general.
The Maury statue, titled “Pathfinder of the Seas,” depicts him seated below a globe. A U.S. congressman called last month for a hall honoring Maury at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., to be renamed.The Maury statue, titled “Pathfinder of the Seas,” depicts him seated below a globe. A U.S. congressman called last month for a hall honoring Maury at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., to be renamed.
Mr. Stoney said that the removal process would take several days, and that they would be kept in storage until the community decides their ultimate fate. Until recently, there were six statues on Monument Avenue: Maury, Davis, Jackson, Lee, J.E.B. Stuart, and the Black tennis legend Arthur Ashe, who was added in 1996 in an effort to balance the avenue.
Until recently, there were six statues on Monument Avenue: Maury, Davis, Jackson, Lee, the Confederate army officer J.E.B. Stuart, and the Black tennis legend Arthur Ashe, who was added in 1996 in an effort to balance the avenue. With the city’s removal of Stuart, Jackson and Maury, and protesters’ toppling of Davis last month, Lee is the last Confederate figure remaining.
With the city’s removal of Jackson and Maury, and protesters’ toppling of Davis last month, Stuart and Lee are the last Confederate figures remaining.
Gov. Ralph Northam has ordered the removal of the Lee statue, which sits on state property in Richmond, but the process has stalled because of several lawsuits, The Associated Press reported.Gov. Ralph Northam has ordered the removal of the Lee statue, which sits on state property in Richmond, but the process has stalled because of several lawsuits, The Associated Press reported.
Mr. Stoney, who is Black, said Richmond had been burdened with the legacy of the Confederacy since the end of its tenure as its capital city.Mr. Stoney, who is Black, said Richmond had been burdened with the legacy of the Confederacy since the end of its tenure as its capital city.
“The great weight of that burden has fallen on our residents of color,” he said, adding that it “also placed a weight on all of our brothers and sisters who saw the unmet potential for Richmond to become an international example of a diverse, compassionate and inclusive community.”“The great weight of that burden has fallen on our residents of color,” he said, adding that it “also placed a weight on all of our brothers and sisters who saw the unmet potential for Richmond to become an international example of a diverse, compassionate and inclusive community.”
Although the removal of the Stonewall Jackson statue was announced suddenly, crowds began to form shortly after a crane appeared on the street nearby. After about four hours, the statue was finally hoisted into the air.Although the removal of the Stonewall Jackson statue was announced suddenly, crowds began to form shortly after a crane appeared on the street nearby. After about four hours, the statue was finally hoisted into the air.
“Everybody’s like screaming and clapping and yelling,” said Paul Finch, 29, a graduate student at Virginia Commonwealth University, who was on a friend’s porch overlooking the scene when the process began.“Everybody’s like screaming and clapping and yelling,” said Paul Finch, 29, a graduate student at Virginia Commonwealth University, who was on a friend’s porch overlooking the scene when the process began.
Virginia had more than 220 public memorials to the Confederacy, according to the governor’s office. A state law that went into effect on Wednesday gives local governments the ability “to remove, relocate, or contextualize the monuments in their communities.”Virginia had more than 220 public memorials to the Confederacy, according to the governor’s office. A state law that went into effect on Wednesday gives local governments the ability “to remove, relocate, or contextualize the monuments in their communities.”
“These monuments tell a particular version of history that doesn’t include everyone,” Mr. Northam said when he signed the legislation in April. “In Virginia, that version of history has been given prominence and authority for far too long.”“These monuments tell a particular version of history that doesn’t include everyone,” Mr. Northam said when he signed the legislation in April. “In Virginia, that version of history has been given prominence and authority for far too long.”
Ezra Marcus contributed reporting from Richmond, Va., and Bryan Pietsch and Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs from New York. Ezra Marcus contributed reporting from Richmond, Va., and Christine Hauser, Bryan Pietsch and, Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs from New York.