Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s statue removed from US Capitol

A symbol of the Confederate army and longtime representation of VA in the US Capitol has officially been removed.

Gov. Ralph Northam announced Monday that General Robert E. Lee’s statue was taken out of the capitol building overnight Sunday, and it comes after Northam created the Commission for Historical Statues in the United States Capitol earlier this year, aimed at studying the removal and replacement of the Lee statue.

“We should all be proud of this important step forward for our Commonwealth and our country,” said Governor Northam. “The Confederacy is a symbol of Virginia’s racist and divisive history, and it is past time we tell our story with images of perseverance, diversity, and inclusion. I look forward to seeing a trailblazing young woman of color represent Virginia in the U.S. Capitol, where visitors will learn about Barbara Johns’ contributions to America and be empowered to create positive change in their communities just like she did.”

The Commission unanimously voted to oust Lee’s statue in July, and last week they voted to recommend civil rights icon Barbara Johns as a replacement.

Johns led a walkout and protest at her all black high school in Farmville, VA in 1951 due to inferior conditions compared to a nearby all white high school, helping to set up a lawsuit that became part of the landmark Brown v Board of Education ruling by the Supreme Court in 1954 to desegregate schools.

The General Assembly must approve the change before it can move forward, and Northam has set aside $500,000 in his proposed budget for the potential Johns statue.

Photo Courtesy: Jack Mayer/Office of Governor Northam