Jun 4, 2020; Richmond, VA; (Editors note: Profanity on statue) People gather at the Robert E. Lee monument after an announcement by Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (not pictured) that the Lee statue will soon be removed in Richmond, Virginia. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY NETWORK
News: Robert E. Lee Statue To Be Removed
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Since the May 25 police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee in Richmond, Virginia, has become a focal point for protesters against police brutality and racism.
Robert E. Lee monument in Richmond, photographed last month by Carlos Bernate of The New York Times: pic.twitter.com/aPy6wu2PYs
— Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) July 1, 2020
The iconic statue is now covered in colorful graffiti, much of it denouncing police and demanding an end to systemic racism and inequality.
Clashes between police and protesters gathered near the statue have become a regular occurrence. It has become the epicenter of the protest movement. But it also has recently become a place where people of all ages and races gather peacefully to witness a piece of history.
