AG asks Supreme Court to reject appeal in Lee statue case

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Attorney General Mark Herring has asked the Supreme Court of Virginia to reject an appeal from a group of Richmond residents seeking to stop the governor from removing an enormous statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.

In a brief filed Wednesday afternoon, Herring urged the court to decline the plaintiffs’ petition for an appeal outright or expedite the proceedings if the court decides to hear the case.

“Any other course of action would allow plaintiffs to continue to win by losing and force the Commonwealth of today to display yesterday’s symbol of racism and oppression,” he wrote in a brief.

A circuit court judge sided with the state after a trial in October. But an injunction remains in place that bars its removal.

Gov. Ralph Northam announced plans to remove the state-owned statue in June after the death of George Floyd.

The lawsuit is being brought by a group of Richmond residents who live in the vicinity of the statue. The plaintiffs filed their petition for appeal on Monday.