Who was Robert E. Lee? US Capitol removes statue of Virginia Confederate figure!
Who was Robert E. Lee? As news broke that his statue has been removed from the US Capitol, people were left wanting to know more about the Confederate general.
For over 100 years now, the US Capitol has been home to two statues representing Virginia in the National Statuary Hall’s collection – Robert E. Lee and George Washington. The Statuary Hall Collection displays two statues to represent each US state.
Both of the statues representing Virginia were added in 1909, around 44 years after the end of the Civil War.
Virginia Removes Its Robert E. Lee Statue From U.S. Capitol
Jack Mayer / Office of Governor Northam
For more than 100 years, two statues representing Virginia have stood at the U.S. Capitol: one of George Washington and another of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.
But early Monday, the Lee statue was removed from the National Statuary Hall s collection. It s expected to be replaced by a statue honoring civil rights activist Barbara Johns. This is a historic and long-overdue moment for our Commonwealth, U.S. Reps. Donald McEachin and Jennifer Wexton, both Democrats from Virginia, said in a statement. The Robert E. Lee statue honors a legacy of division, oppression, and racism a dark period in the history of our Commonwealth and our country.
Photo: WINA
WASHINGTON, DC (WINA) – Governor Northam announces crews overnight Sunday into Monday morning removed the Robert E. Lee statue from the U.S. Capitol Statuary Hall that the General Assembly decided earlier this year does not properly represent the Commonwealth of Virginia. A citizens advisory committee the General Assembly enabled last winter met over the summer and decided Lee which has stood there since 1909 no longer would stand along with George Washington as Virginia’s picks. The legislature approved that removal.
Governor Northam in a morning statement said, “We should all be proud of this important step forward for our Commonwealth and our country. The Confederacy is a symbol of Virginia’s racist and divisive history, and it is past time we tell our story with images of perseverance, diversity, and inclusion. I look forward to seeing a trailblazing young woman of color represent Virginia in the U.S. Capitol, where visitors will learn about Barbara Jo
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Photo Courtesy of Jack Mayer, Office of Governor Northam.
WASHINGTON, D.C. Governor Ralph Northam today announced that Virginia’s statue of Confederate general Robert E. Lee was removed from the United States Capitol overnight. A representative from the governor’s office was present for the removal along with United States Senator Tim Kaine and Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton.
Each state is entitled to display two statues in the National Statuary Hall Collection, and for 111 years, the Confederate statue has stood along with America’s first president George Washington as Virginia’s contributions. The two statues were added in 1909, which was 44 years after the Confederacy rebelled against the United States and was defeated. The Lee statue had been one among 13 located in the Crypt of the Capitol, representing the 13 original colonies.