Richmond, VA _ Six Monument Avenue Property owners have filed suit in Richmond Circuit Court in an effort to prevent the state from removing the Robert E. Lee Monument.
The suit, filed by Helen Marie Taylor and five other anonymous plaintiffs, names Governor Ralph Northam, the State Secretary of administration, Virginia's Director of General Servies, and the head of the division of Engineering and Buildings as defendants.
Lawyers for the plaintiffs argue in the suit that "the activities of Defendants in attempting to remove, destroy, damage, or alter the statue of Robert E. Lee, which has been designated as a National Historic Landmark" violate the defendants duties under the Constitution of Virginia.
The plaintiffs also argue that removing the monument would deprive them of tax benefits they receive from living in a National Historic Landmark District, reduce their property values, and result in the loss of the Landmark District designation.
In addition, the property owners are asking that their lawsuit be consolidated with the case filed by William Gregory, a descendant of two of the people who signed the 1890 deed giving the land the monument sits on to the State of Virginia. Under the terms of that deed the Commonwealth is supposed to hold the monument and the land around it “perpetually sacred” and “faithfully guard it and affectionately protect it.”
A hearing is scheduled for Thursday in the Gregory lawsuit.