UPDATE: Toppled Confederate statues in Richmond could be sold to private bidders, placed in museums

The city of Richmond, Virginia, will be soliciting ideas for what to do with the Confederate monuments that have been taken down and placed in storage.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported Monday that the City Council will allow museums, historical societies and others to submit proposals.

Lawrence Anderson, the council’s chief of staff, said offers will be reviewed, and then a list of recommendations will be presented to the council.

“We really need to figure out what we can do with these statues,” said Chris Hilbert, the council’s vice president. “I think they should be sold at auction and placed on private property.”

The statues include monuments to Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson and J.E.B. Stuart. They became the target of protesters following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody. Many have called the statues symbols of racism and white supremacy.

Demonstrators began tearing down the statues, including one depicting Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney then ordered crews to begin taking the statues down immediately, citing a threat to public safety as protests gripped the city.

The City Council voted on Monday to permanently remove the statues that are being held in storage.

(PHOTO: Associated Press)