Gen. Lee statue can be removed, Virginia Supreme Court rules

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Source: AP

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia’s Supreme Court ruled unanimously on Thursday that the state can remove an iconic statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from a prominent spot in its capital city, saying “values change and public policy changes too” in a democracy.

The 7-0 decision cited testimony from historians that the enormous statue was erected in 1890 to honor the southern white citizenry’s defense of a pre-Civil War life that depended on slavery and the subjugation of Black people.

More than a century later, its continued display “communicates principles that many believe to be inconsistent with the values the Commonwealth currently wishes to express," the justices said.

The high court’s decision came in two lawsuits filed by Virginia residents who attempted to block Gov. Ralph Northam's order to remove the bronze equestrian sculpture, which shows Lee in military attire atop a massive stone pedestal.



Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/virginia-supreme-court-rules-state-125352509.html

[NurseJackie]

1. It needs to go!

[underpants]

3. I can honestly say I never thought this would happen

I thought the SCV and UDC would pour money into fighting it but I guess not. Moved here in 1994 and Monument was sacrosanct. All that left is AP Hill on Laburnum but he’s buried there (actually re-buried there) which makes it sort of complicated.

WOW.

[NurseJackie]

4. I cringe every time I drive past the "Fort AP Hill" road signs.

[ZonkerHarris]

2. melt it down

[bucolic_frolic]

5. I think it's a good ruling

I don't see how you erase history, but you sure don't have to make it prominent when it belongs in an historical museum. Just like we don't use whaling ships and Model T's anymore. It's ancient, that era is over.

[Sneederbunk]

6. Remove the statue but leave the defaced base.

[electric_blue68]

8. 🤔 Interesting idea!

[electric_blue68]

7. I remember visiting a friend in Ga..

Athens, Decatur, and Atlanta back in the '70s.

It was a shock to see Stone Mountain - even from a distance!

[BumRushDaShow]

9. Excellent!

I initially misread the headline as "cannot be removed" while scanning the DU front page. I think that must have come with having to accept so many negative rulings over the decades regarding so-called "historical art", that my brain just "assumed" the negative.

[Evolve Dammit]

10. Keep Traveler (his horse) and air hammer the traitor off the statue. Horse was magnificent and

didn't do anything traitorous, right?

[argyl]

11. Several years ago the statue of Lee was removed from Lee Park in Dallas.

Not much was said but it wasn't the behemoth this one is and wasn't in the Capitol of the Old Whipped South.

Never been to Virginia so I've never seen it but a 7-0 ruling by the State Supreme Court is something. WTG, Virginia.

[twodogsbarking]

12. Virginia is for lovers.

[Marcuse]

13. Indeed.