Northam Signs Bill Into Law That Removes Harry Byrd Sr. Statue

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam has signed into law several pieces of legislation related to equity and inclusion, among the most notable is a new law that directs the Department of General Services to remove the statue of Harry Byrd, Sr from Capitol Square. Byrd, the former Governor and longtime United States senator was an avid segregationist and the architect of “massive resistance,”which was a campaign to prevent public school desegregation in the Commonwealth. Northam also signed into law House Bill 2130 which establishes the Virginia LGBTQ Advisory Board to advise the Governor on the economic professional, cultural, educational, and governmental links between the Commonwealth and the LGBTQ community in Virginia.