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Iconic Robert E Lee statue to be removed in Virginia

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By SARAH RANKIN and DENISE LAVOIE

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60 Comments

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They also removed a statue of a Texas Ranger in Dallas Love Field airport.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

Good!!!!

Supporters of slavery and the apologists should not have statues honoring them.

5 ( +12 / -7 )

Treason and rebellion to perpetuate slavery should never be honored.

Thank you Governor Northam.

4 ( +10 / -6 )

“I think they should go to a museum — just like the dinosaurs,” he said.

Well said. That at far right rallies confederate flags and nazi banners, both representing losing sides and losers, are waved says a lot about the attitudes of those waving them. They're probably legally free to do so, but look pretty hypocritical when some of their fellow far rightists claim athletes taking a knee are being disrespectful to the American flag.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

Yes, erase history and let’s pretend it never happened. If you go by that then a lot of people that we so called idolize should also have their statues removed because a lot of them have skeletons in their closet as well. So if liberals want to remove them, fine, but at least be fair.

-2 ( +9 / -11 )

@bas4ffs, erase history and let’s pretend it never happened

Erasing and whitewashing history are what white nationalists have done for generations and continue to do today. They still say things like 'we've already fixed the problems' while continuing to ignore and demean the voices of those who continue to say 'no you have not' because many of them still face racial problems on a daily basis. Those white nationalists must want to see race problems worsen. Some of them even saying they want another civil war. Which they'd lose once again. SMH

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Robert E. Lee was an American and along with all Confederate soldiers, a legally recognized war veteran.

Something being overlooked here is that Northern States did not make slavery illegal until AFTER the Civil War. So are they going to remove Ulysses S. Grant statutes now since he fought for a slave nation? How about the Jefferson memorial? Statues of George Washington? They founded our slave nation and were slave owners!

The American Civil War was not about keeping slavery. It was about State's Rights to leave the Union they voluntarily entered. It was about lack or representation in government as Lincoln was not on the ballot in any Southern state, yet he became their president?

I abhor racial and chattel slavery too, but the ignorance about the war and its history is truly appalling. Americans are being totally misled. The focus should be on state's rights which need to be restored and we are suffering today because they are dead. The American Civil War was literally a war between two slave nations; its just that one was more slaving than the other.

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

This is not the way to go.

Which historical figures pass the purity test?

2 ( +9 / -7 )

Robert E. Lee was an American and along with all Confederate soldiers, a legally recognized war veteran.

Something being overlooked here is that Northern States did not make slavery illegal until AFTER the Civil War. So are they going to remove Ulysses S. Grant statutes now since he fought for a slave nation? How about the Jefferson memorial? Statues of George Washington? They founded our slave nation and were slave owners!

The American Civil War was not about keeping slavery. It was about State's Rights to leave the Union they voluntarily entered. It was about lack or representation in government as Lincoln was not on the ballot in any Southern state, yet he became their president? 

I abhor racial and chattel slavery too, but the ignorance about the war and its history is truly appalling. Americans are being totally misled. The focus should be on state's rights which need to be restored and we are suffering today because they are dead. The American Civil War was literally a war between two slave nations; its just that one was more slaving than the other

Excellent point. But the majority of schools don’t teach that kind of detailed facts so these people wouldn’t know, let alone believe that.

-3 ( +6 / -9 )

How many statues honouring those who perpetuated a crime worse than the Holocaust does one nation need?

HInt, ask the Germans how many statues they have honouring those who perpetuated the Holocaust they have, then go lower.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

This is not the way to go.

Sure it is. Robert E. Lee led an insurrection against the US government. He doesn't need or deserve a statue honoring him or the evil cause he fought for.

Furthermore, the statues were erected in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1950s. They're not even about honoring Confederate leaders, but instilling fear in blacks.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

So what do we do with all the Presidents who were slave owners? Just erase them from history too?

-3 ( +8 / -11 )

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/obama-romney-family-trees-hold-slaves-british-countryfolk/story?id=16889505

"Obama's great-great-great-great grandfather George Washington Overall owned two slaves, a Baltimore Sun study found, based on 1850 census records."

Uh oh......but of course somehow this wont matter.

-4 ( +5 / -9 )

"Obama's great-great-great-great grandfather George Washington Overall owned two slaves, a Baltimore Sun study found, based on 1850 census records."

Uh oh......but of course somehow this wont matter.

Is there a statue celebrating George Washington Overall role in slavery anywhere in US? If not then yes it won’t matter because it’s irrelevant.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Shouldnt everyone be held to account?

Or are we just going to pick out certain ones for politics, a century and half after their death?

Obama's ancestor and General Lee owned slaves at the same time.

12 US Presidents owned slaves, 8 while in office.

What to do about all this?

If so, then all the families from the slave owning ones would also be held to account.

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

Oh ok, so any racist or slave owner that doesnt have a statue is somehow exempt from all this?

How about buildings named after them? Pictures on our money? where does the exemption start and end?

So this is basically virtue signalling to remove things from our sight that we now dont want to see. Good to know. Hope we can just remove everything in the world that is uncomfortable to look at, to make us feel good about ourselves and pretend that all those things never happened.

Statues and museums and such start conversations about what happened and why it was wrong. Remove those, what happened is lost to time and our opportunity to remember is lost.

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

see, so let’s gloss over liberal hypocrisy and focus on the Republicans only, don’t mess up their bread and butter meal ticket, eh? Lol

No. Not once have a mentioned Republicans. Robert E. Lee wasn't event a republican. Stop putting words into other's mouths and try staying on topic.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Shouldnt everyone be held to account?

People that are living now should be held accountable to what’s happening now.

You can’t change the past but today people decided they don’t want slave people to be honored anymore, we should applaud that.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Statues and museums and such start conversations about what happened and why it was wrong. Remove those, what happened is lost to time and our opportunity to remember is lost.

Except no one is saying to remove them from museums. My goodness, do any right-wingers actually read? From the article:

Dr. Fergie Reid, who grew up in segregated Richmond and in 1967 became the first African American elected to the Virginia General Assembly since Reconstruction, called the monuments' removal “long overdue.” But Reid, 95, said he thinks they still have historical value.

"I think they should go to a museum — just like the dinosaurs,” he said.

Why not just put them in museums?

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Isn't it interesting, and very telling, that every Trump supporter here is making arguments defending slavery, and those who propagated it? Why is that?

Well, if you look at the number of Confederate flags being waved along with Trump 2020 banners, it explains a lot...

Then there is the constant racist demagoguery and "dog whistles" from the President...

Then the just outright racist statements, like; "there are very fine people, on both sides"....

Then the award of the nation's highest civilian honor, the Medal of Freedom, to a person with a long recorded history of racist rhetoric like; "take that bone out of your nose and call me back"...

Then support from well-known racists and KKK members like David Duke; "It’s the fulfillment of President Donald Trump’s vision for America. “We are determined to take our country back,” Duke said from the rally, calling it a “turning point.” “We are going to fulfill the promises of Donald Trump. That’s what we believed in. That’s why we voted for Donald Trump, because he said he’s going to take our country back.”

No doubt back to the days of the Confederate flag and slavery...

So the answer is clear - white supremacy is infused throughout Trump-world - its who his supporters are...

Just watch and listen to them...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=5w7kwtLJtVc&feature=emb_logo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-e3T3VHmEkg

2 ( +6 / -4 )

So what do we do with all the Presidents who were slave owners? 

Our dear leader trump and his followers probably would want to make them saints.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

because thats your twisted interpretation of the actual conversation being had- which is quite different.

Why are some slave owners, etc being singled out while others are not?

And plus, Robert E Lee.....wait for it.....was.......a..... DEMOCRAT.

Isn't it interesting, and very telling, that every Trump supporter here is making arguments defending slavery, and those who propagated it? Why is that?

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

No. Not once have a mentioned Republicans. Robert E. Lee wasn't event a republican.

Of course he wasn’t.

Stop putting words into other's mouths and try staying on topic.

I am guy, relax...I know liberals hate for anyone to dig into their idol relics flaws. Lol

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

"Obama's great-great-great-great grandfather George Washington Overall owned two slaves, a Baltimore Sun study found, based on 1850 census records."

Uh oh......but of course somehow this wont matter.

No, because liberals selective then it comes to liberal outrage.

Isn't it interesting, and very telling, that every Trump supporter here is making arguments defending slavery, and those who propagated it? Why is that?

The same way liberals are supporting the modern day institutionalized modern day slavery that holds and confines blacks into a perpetual state of poverty, lack of education and crime?

Well, if you look at the number of Confederate flags being waved along with Trump 2020 banners, it explains a lot...

You mean most of the Southern State flags, what should they replace it with? Hippie or BLM flags which aren’t national flags, but supporting domestic terrorists is ok? Why?

Then the award of the nation's highest civilian honor, the Medal of Freedom, to a person with a long recorded history of racist rhetoric like; "take that bone out of your nose and call me back"...

But Liberals want blacks to support a man who is responsible for writing legislation that incarcerated thousands of blacks and called them SOB’s or I quote: “lock up the SOB’s” there’s your racist, wrote the law and was proud of his crime bill.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

If it sends trump into a tiny thumb twitter tizzy I’m all for it.

News flash: Democrat and Republican didn’t mean back then what you think it means now. trump was also a democrat once upon a time. Means nothing. Judge a person by what they do not what badge you assign them.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Then support from well-known racists and KKK members like David Duke; "It’s the fulfillment of President Donald Trump’s vision for America. “We are determined to take our country back,” Duke said from the rally, calling it a “turning point.”

An absolute fake and outright lie, Trump never supported any racist and there is no where or any evidence that Trump does or did.

“We are going to fulfill the promises of Donald Trump. That’s what we believed in. That’s why we voted for Donald Trump, because he said he’s going to take our country back.”

Duke who was historically a Democrat (not a surprise) later supported both Bush’s as well as McCain (another racist)

No doubt back to the days of the Confederate flag and slavery...

Before that, it seems the country might submit to the White Anarchist terrorists with the help of BLM now if that’s not domestic terrorism then you got a serious problem.

So the answer is clear - white supremacy is infused throughout Trump-world - its who his supporters are...

More like white supremacy reigns hard and heavy within the Democratic Party and blacks fall for it every single time and as long as they do and as long as Democrats can just get their votes, no need to change anything, let them tear up the city, get these cowardly officials to submit and increase the Democrats power, meanwhile in black communities life will go on the same, poverty and crime, nothing will change. Rinse and repeat again.

Just watch and listen to them...

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

Isn't it interesting, and very telling, that every Trump supporter here is making arguments defending slavery, and those who propagated it? Why is that?

The same way liberals are supporting the modern day institutionalized modern day slavery that holds and confines blacks into a perpetual state of poverty, lack of education and crime?

"The same way"? OK, you just agreed with me - thanks...

Well, if you look at the number of Confederate flags being waved along with Trump 2020 banners, it explains a lot...

You mean most of the Southern State flags, what should they replace it with? Hippie or BLM flags which aren’t national flags, but supporting domestic terrorists is ok? Why?

And?

Then the award of the nation's highest civilian honor, the Medal of Freedom, to a person with a long recorded history of racist rhetoric like; "take that bone out of your nose and call me back"...

But Liberals want blacks to support a man who is responsible for writing legislation that incarcerated thousands of blacks and called them SOB’s or I quote: “lock up the SOB’s” there’s your racist, wrote the law and was proud of his crime bill.

Another "But What About" - which is always premised with; "Yes that's true, but what about"....

Thanks for agreeing with me...the more people that see Limbaugh for the outright racist he is, the better...

https://newsone.com/16051/top-10-racist-limbaugh-quotes/

5 ( +6 / -1 )

The same way"? OK, you just agreed with me - thanks...

Sorry, I never agreed, but nice try.

And?

Liberals could care less, not surprising.

Another "But What About" - which is always premised with; "Yes that's true, but what about"....

Ok, give Biden’s racism a pass, that’s funny. Get Trump out, Biden’s racism “shhhh, just don’t talk about, maybe the stupid voters won’t notice!” (fist bump chuckles)

Thanks for agreeing with me

Lincoln, I never did, relax, I know it’s hard to defend the indefensible.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Because you post links to things that have nothing to do with the topic, so it is not necessary for me to respond to those.

Rush Limbaugh, nor Trump, have anything to do with Virginia removing the Robert E. Lee statue.

Nor do John Kelly, Trump neckties, John Bolton, Ann Coulter, Putin, Mueller or any other of the usual off topic deflections.

I asked a legitimate question. Why are we only considering some slave owners as bad? While others get a pass? I get Rush Limbaugh as an answer.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

ALL public memorials depicting individuals from the past are POLITICAL SYMBOLS. After they have been erected, at a later date some will be removed or demolished according to the changing times and, judging from the huge outpouring of solidarity across ethnic lines in support of BLM and related issues, such as immunity and impunity for police who overstep their authority to kill and maim with malice aforethought, and protesting in defense of that bulwark of freedom, the First Amendment and against government-sanctioned terrorism, the times they are, indeed, "a-changin'" - bigly. Public monuments and statues are never sacrosanct: removing is not demolishing, nor is it "erasing" history. If anyone wants to learn about Robert E. Lee, there are thousands of books and articles available to study because Americans still enjoy the freedom to read whatever they can find. Nobody needs monuments to learn about history. They belong in a museum where true history buffs can view them. Grandstanding and throwing hissy fits over "history erased" all amount to just a hill of beans reeking of hypocrisy and hysteria.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Joe Biden has more racist comments, actual quotes, than nearly any other person I can find outside of leaders of hate groups.

Now he is spending his time kneeling to black people, just to get their vote. Black Americans are smarter than that. I am sure he is in full support of removing these statues. Yet here is his actual thinking on the matter:

“I don’t feel responsible for the sins of my father and grandfather. I feel responsible for what the situation is today, for the sins of my own generation, and I’ll be damned if I feel responsible to pay for what happened 300 years ago.”

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

I cannot believe some fellow American citizens were havnt such a bad vision of histroy and their bad taste of graffitis spraying all over the foundation!  What does the statue or "General Robert E Lee" have to do with "Racism" or "Police inproper actions"? Irrelevant!

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

This institutional racism that exists, Who built it?

Well who has been in the government the last 30-40 years?

Joe Biden, Stony Hoyer, Chuck Schumer, Dick Durbin, Nancy Pelosi- why havent they done anything, as they are the "insttituton" being referenced?

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

The same way"? OK, you just agreed with me - thanks...

Sorry, I never agreed, but nice try.

Sure you did - "The same way"...Democrats are doing the "same" as Republicans...that's exactly what you said...

And?

Liberals could care less, not surprising.

And?

Another "But What About" - which is always premised with; "Yes that's true, but what about"....

Ok, give Biden’s racism a pass, that’s funny. Get Trump out, Biden’s racism “shhhh, just don’t talk about, maybe the stupid voters won’t notice!” (fist bump chuckles)

As before, thanks for agreeing with me...as for the rest, I can't understand it...

Thanks for agreeing with me

Lincoln, I never did, relax, I know it’s hard to defend the indefensible.

Is that true - but give it a try - explain how "But What About" isn't, "yes that's true, but what about"?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

All this is well and good, but you are aware that there is an actual public statue of Satan (Baphomet) in Detroit, right?

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

I asked a legitimate question. Why are we only considering some slave owners as bad? While others get a pass? I get Rush Limbaugh as an answer.

The founding were slave holders, yes, but that's not what they're primarily known for. Washington and Jefferson for example are respectively known as a general/president and as the author of the Constitution. RE Lee, on the other hand, is revered as the leader of the rebellious Confederate army. That is the difference.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

@The Avenger

Treason and rebellion to perpetuate slavery should never be honored

Then why to stop at Lee? Let's be consistent, let's tear down all statues of Washington, he was a traitor, he led a mutiny against the king, right? And he also was a slave owner!!

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

oh so there were "good" white slave owners and "bad" white slave owners depending on if they did anything else of note in their lives. Black slave owners like in the Obama family tree are somehow totally exempt just because they are also black.

I am sure that gave great comfort to the slaves they owned that their master was a good guy in the other areas unrelated to their imprisonment/forced labor.

The founding were slave holders, yes, but that's not what they're primarily known for.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

That guy who murdered someone? All good, he is primarily known as an "actor/producer".

We have statutes to document our history. We are getting to the point where all the "bad" statues will need to go to museums. Which of course only "racists" will go to, cause that museum houses all the "racist" statues. Museum will then close down due to lack of funding/ticket sales because anyone who donates to it will also be "racist".

Easy to see why these statues must stay in the public eye. as a constant reminder, as a warning and as a place to have needed conversations that are uncomfortable.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

oh so there were "good" white slave owners and "bad" white slave owners depending on if they did anything else of note in their lives.

That is not what I said. There is a difference between a statue of a leader who happened to own slaves, and a slave owner/rebel.

Black slave owners like in the Obama family tree are somehow totally exempt just because they are also black.

What are you talking about? Obama's father was from Kenya. Certainly no black slaveowners from his white mom's family.

I am sure that gave great comfort to the slaves they owned that their master was a good guy in the other areas unrelated to their imprisonment/forced labor.

So tear them all down, I don't give a rip.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I believe nearly every single person of a certain skin color were slaves at some point between 1776-1865.

A sad time in the history of the USA. But means nothing if we remove it from the public, hide it in a "racist statue" museum that no one is allowed to go to, then destroy it secretly in the night like it never existed.

Then the books come next. after time, history is erased. The people who want to do this again to someone else can then claim "it never happened" by then. History becomes a myth.

Blacklabel

where your family slaves?

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

There was no United States in 1619. I know it makes for a "good story" for those of you who want to push the narrative, but it simply isnt true.

Institutional racism in the United States first began in 1619 

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

A sad time in the history of the USA. But means nothing if we remove it from the public, hide it in a "racist statue" museum that no one is allowed to go to, then destroy it secretly in the night like it never existed.

Oh I see, how many statues of Hitler are there in Europe? We don't need a dumb statue of some despicable humans to remember history.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Really? Who has praised the white supremacists who want these statues to stay?

And to think the Democrats praised a former Grand Wizard who served in Congress who many including Hillary said was her idol, again very telling about these people....

Those really get to you, don't they? Especially the digs by Ann Coulter...your conservative icon...

I don’t think so, you are the one that keeps bring her up. No one else cares, but I know the woman needs to sell some books, her and Katy Griffin must have very lonely lives and I mean that.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

Racism in America dates back to when whites first arrived

And way, way before there was an America.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

en. Robert Byrd was an Exalted Cyclops of the Ku Klux Klan, for which he recruited some 150 fresh Klansmen in the 1940s.

• A statue of the late U.S. senator Robert Byrd (D., W.Va.) stands in the U.S. Capitol. Some 55 bridges, highways, dams, and other facilities in Byrd’s state carry his name. These honor Byrd’s 51 years in the Senate, including 12 as Democratic leader, as recently as 1989. Byrd told the late Fox News anchor Tony Snow this about race relations in March 2001: “There are white (n-word). I’ve seen a lot of white (n-word)  in my time; I’m going to use that word.” Byrd led the 83-day Democratic filibuster against the 1964 Civil Rights Act and spoke nonstop for its defeat for 14 hours on the Senate floor.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Another Democrat Governor bowing to the mob, will America have any icons or heros left by the time its all over or will American history be completely rewritten

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

"But during World War II, whose satisfying conclusion he nearly lived to enjoy, FDR locked up roughly 120,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry in 10 internment centers, including California’s Manzanar camp, solely due to their heritage. Also, as Woodrow Wilson’s assistant secretary of the Navy, Roosevelt signed the August 8, 1916, order to resegregate the bathrooms in the State, War, and Navy Departments Building “for the use of women, white men and Colored.” Thus, Democrats should be thrilled to dismantle Washington, D.C.’s FDR Monument and sandblast his face from the dime."

On and on. If we are going to do this, lets do it.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

Last one. Lets get all these people and everything they represented removed,

"Democratic president Woodrow Wilson headed Princeton University, signed the Federal Reserve Act, commanded U.S. forces in World War I, and pioneered multilateralism through the League of Nations. These were momentous achievements, like them or not. Wilson also was a raving bigot who resegregated the bathrooms in the federal building beside the White House. He hosted a 1915 screening of D. W. Griffith’s pro-KKK epic Birth of a Nation at the Executive Mansion. Wilson said: “It’s like writing history with lightning.” Wilson also said: “Segregation is not a humiliation but a benefit.” Why have Democrats not already pried this man’s name from Washington, D.C.’s Woodrow Wilson Bridge?"

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

Sad to see people arguing from a liberal v conservative viewpoint or a Democrat v Republican viewpoint yet again.

I see the problem with removing statues as similar to censorship in some ways. Who gets to decide who gets removed and on what grounds?

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Readers, please take a break from the thread. Once again, several of you are just going around in circles and bickering.

I find the argument that "liberals are erasing history" to be disingenuous. This line generally comes from the same people who claim that racism is pretty much gone and that black Americans need to get over the past.

Sorry, but I don't accept your pretend concern for history. You simply feel disdain for liberalism and a more pluralistic America.

Get over it. Trump is the last gasp of an American myth.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Some things you probably don't know about Lee. 1) He freed his slaves in 1862 as was promised to the slaves in 1857, before the war even began. This was before Lincoln released the Emancipation Proclamation which only declared Southern slaves free, not Northern ones, and he had no power to free Southern slaves, so.... 2) Lee never owned slaves until 1857, and even then only indirectly as they were inherited by his wife at that time. 3) His feelings about the slavery were mixed. On the one hand he wrote "In this enlightened age, there are few I believe, but what will acknowledge, that slavery as an institution, is a moral & political evil in any Country." On the other hand it seems he felt the slaves were not ready to integrate into American society directly even if freed...which is the exact same general position of the Northern states considering segregation/apartheid by the Northern States. 4) Lee himself was against raising Confederate monuments. Yep. Lee himself would agree this own statue should be taken down.

And now I put it to you that generally speaking, powerful Americans were luke-warm at best about ending slavery or doing anything for Black people. Lincoln himself wrote that if he could preserve the Union without freeing the slaves, he would. Look it up. The whole war was about preserving the Union folks, which was much like beating your wife for asking for a divorce. Yet Lincoln gets a free pass?

There were other reasons why the South left besides slavery, but it was a major one. Slavery may not have been legitimate but all else for the Confederacy was, just as the American Revolution was legitimate. All told, I hold Lee in higher esteem than Lincoln. After all, Lincoln started the war where as his predecessor Buchanan did all he could to prevent it.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

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