Virginia Gov. to order REMOVAL of iconic statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee in Richmond amid George Floyd protests
THE GOVERNOR of Virginia is set to order the removal of a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee in Richmond amid the George Floyd protests.
Gov Ralph Northam is expected to unveil the plans for its removal on Thursday, an official told the .
The statue, which was erected in 1890, will be moved from its massive pedestal and put into storage while the governor's administration finds a new location for it.
The Lee monument, which is one of five Confederate statues along Monument Avenue in , has been the target of vandalism during protests in recent days over death.
On Wednesday, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney announced plans to also remove the other monuments, which include statues of Confederate President Jefferson Davis and Confederate Gens. Stonewall Jackson and J.E.B. Stuart.
Those statues sit on city land, unlike the Lee statue, which is on state property.
Stoney said he would introduce legislation on July 1 to have the statues removed.
"I appreciate the recommendations of the Monument Avenue Commission – those were the appropriate recommendations at the time. But times have changed, and removing these statues will allow the healing process to begin for so many Black Richmonders and Virginians," Stoney said.
"Richmond is no longer the Capital of the Confederacy – it is filled with diversity and love for all – and we need to demonstrate that."
Protests have erupted in Richmond over the past week, as demonstrators demanded justice for the late George Floyd.
Floyd died while in police custody after held his knee on the black man's neck for what authorities believe was nearly nine minutes.
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The 46-year-old begged Chauvin to stop and said he could not breathe while the officer was on top of him.
The disturbing and horrific incident was recorded on video, which quickly went viral and drew outrage.
Chauvin and three other officers were fired the following day and .