A Confederate monument that helped spark a violent white supremacist rally in Charlottesville is set to come down on Saturday, the city announced. Charlottesville said in a news release that the equestrian statue of Confederate Gen Robert E Lee, as well as a nearby one of Confederate Gen Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, will be removed over the weekend. The development comes more than five years after a 2016 removal push focused on the Lee statue. Because of litigation and changes to a state law dealing with war memorials, the city had been unable to act until now. Preparations around the parks will begin on Friday and include the installation of protective fencing, according to the news release.

Source: Irish Independent July 09, 2021 17:15 UTC