Why do people want the statue of Robert E. Lee removed?
The governor had announced plans to remove the statue in 2020, shortly after nationwide protests against police brutality and racial injustice broke out following the murder of George Floyd. Many, including Northam, have described the statue as one that symbolizes the hate that millions were protesting against.
What are they going to do with the statue of Robert E. Lee?
The massive statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee in Richmond, Va., taken down in September, will be moved to the city's Black History Museum, Gov. Ralph Northam and Mayor Levar Stoney announced Thursday.
Will the Robert E. Lee statue be melted down?
Instead of storing a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, officials will melt down the 1,100-pound bronze monument into metal ingots—raw material that can then be used to create new art.
What does the Robert E. Lee statue represent?
The Robert E. Lee statue was erected in 1924 as a gift from McIntire, a wealthy white stockbroker, during the nationwide wave of statue construction and other demonstrations of white supremacy like the rise of the Ku Klux Klan and proliferation of Jim Crow laws.
Why are Confederate statues being taken down?
The fight to get Confederate monuments removed had been gaining steam before 2020, but the racial and political reckoning accelerated calls for the removals. Many civil rights activists argued that structures were racist and offensive because they honored leaders who promoted the enslavement of Black Americans.
Should statues of historical figures be removed?
Taking them down is to censor, whitewash, and potentially forget that history. Removing statues is a slippery slope that could lead to the brash removal of monuments to any slightly problematic person. The statues do not cause racism and could be used to fight racism if put into historical context.
What good did Robert E. Lee do?
Robert E. Lee is well known as a Confederate military general, but perhaps his greatest contribution to the United States was his effort to reunite the country following the American Civil War. In the opinions of his contemporaries and historians, Lee played a crucial role in restoring peace following the war.
What will happen to the Confederate statues?
RICHMOND, Va. -- Virginia and Richmond officials on Thursday announced a tentative agreement to transfer ownership of the city's now mostly removed Confederate monuments to the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia.
Why did General Lee fight for the South?
Although he felt slavery in the abstract was a bad thing, he blamed the national conflict on abolitionists, and accepted the pro-slavery policies of the Confederacy. He chose to fight to defend his homeland. He resigned from the army he had served for 36 years, and accepted the command of Virginia's forces.