NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — The Robert E. Lee statue in Richmond, Virginia, is set to be removed Wednesday, state officials announced Monday.
The iconic 130-year-old statue to the confederate general had become a symbol of racial injustice across the country during the protests over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
“Virginia’s largest monument to the Confederate insurrection will come down this week,” Gov. Ralph Northam said in a news release on Monday. “This is an important step in showing who we are and what we value as a commonwealth.”
Northam ordered the 21-foot bronze monument to be removed in June 2020 and, after facing legal challenges, the Supreme Court of Virginia ruled that the statue could be taken down last week.
Protective fencing will be installed Tuesday to safeguard workers while allowing for public viewing of the statue’s removal. The governor’s office will also provide a live stream of the event, Northam said.
On Thursday, crews will remove plaques from the base of the monument and replace a time capsule believed to be at the site.
There are currently no plans to remove the statue’s 40-foot pedestal. Its fate will be determined by a community-based discussion led by Richmond officials and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.