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The Virginia Supreme Court denied two separate challenges on Thursday from residents trying to keep the Robert E. Lee statue on Monument Ave. in Richmond. Officials say that that the removal process will begin Wednesday morning.
Governor Ralph Northam ordered the removal of the statue last summer during the social justice movement that swept the country. The Lee statue is the only state-owned statue on Monument Avenue.
“Virginia’s largest monument to the Confederate insurrection will come down this week,” Gov. Ralph Northam said in a statement. “This is an important step in showing who we are and what we value as a Commonwealth.”
After Richmond City officials removed all other confederate statues on Monument Ave, the removal of the Lee statue will leave just one monument on the road – a tribute to tennis legend Authur Ashe.
Limited viewing opportunities will be available on a first‐come, first‐serve basis, state officials said in Monday’s news release. The removal will also be live-streamed through the governor’s Facebook and Twitter accounts, both of which have the handle of @governorVA.
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