It looks like Richmond, VA is starting the process of removing the Confederate monuments along Monument Avenue. On Wednesday, Mayor Levar Stoney ordered the statue of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson to be removed, as well as the others. Within a few hours, the statue of Stonewall Jackson was down. The removal of others is soon to follow.
WATCH: Stonewall Jackson statue removed in Richmond after mayor’s order. pic.twitter.com/kvn96TGi3B
— NBC News (@NBCNews) July 1, 2020
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According to the Associated Press, work crews spent hours attaching a harness to the statue and used power tools to carefully remove the statue from its pedestal as a crowd of people watched and cheered. The mayor said he is acting fast on having the statues removed because he is concerned people could get hurt if they try to remove the statues themselves.
Today, Mayor @LevarStoney, using his emergency powers, ordered the immediate removal of multiple monuments in the city, including Confederate statues. Watch this video to learn more. Read the release here: https://t.co/QjnAB1gZM8 https://t.co/stmK3eePVs
— City of Richmond, VA (@CityRichmondVA) July 1, 2020
Mayor Stoney commented on the long-overdue removal of the statues and said, “Those statues stood high for over 100 years for a reason, and it was to intimidate and to show Black and brown people in this city who was in charge. I think the healing can now begin in the city of Richmond.”
A monumental day in Richmond that begins the important process of removing these painful symbols of our past.
Thank you, next. pic.twitter.com/NMCmGzrmUY
— Ralph Northam (@GovernorVA) July 1, 2020
