Virginia Governor Announces Replacement for Robert E. Lee Statue in US Capitol

The last several months have been truly transformative here in the United States, as a number of violent and tragic incidents have grabbed hold of our psyches and torn them asunder.

We’ve witnessed massive protests in the streets, many of which centered around the theme of racial injustice and equality.  These demonstrations led way to conversation, and many public officials were soon grappling with how best to deal with instances of racism and prejudice that occurred up to several hundred years ago.

For many, it seemed as though the easiest way to remove the stigma of hate was to remove any stigmatized history.  

A statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee was removed from the U.S. Capitol overnight.

The statue has stood with America’s first president, George Washington, as the state of Virginia’s contribution to the National Statuary Hall Collection at the Capitol for more than 100 years.

The Governor of Virginia announced the replacement this week as well.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, announced on Monday the state will seek to have it replaced with a statue of civil rights icon Barbara Johns.

“We should all be proud of this important step forward for our Commonwealth and our country,” Northam said. “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 Johns’ contributions to America and be empowered to create positive change in their communities just like she did.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was delighted with the change, reiterating her belief that there is no reason to “celebrate” the Confederacy.