Virginia names civil rights pioneer to replace Robert E. Lee statue in U.S. Capitol

[mystery-ak]

 By Stephen Dinan - The Washington Times - Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Virginia’s special history commission on Wednesday picked Barbara Rose Johns, a lesser-known civil rights pioneer who led an early school desegregation effort, as the figure it wants to send to Washington to replace the state’s current statue of Robert E. Lee in the hallowed halls of the U.S. Capitol.

Brushing aside suggestions of founding-era heroes such as James Madison or Patrick Henry, and 20th Century statesman George C. Marshall, the commission said it wanted someone schoolchildren would identify with — and Johns, who was a teen in 1951 led a strike at her Virginia high school to demand facilities like white students had, fit the bill.

The local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People sued on the students’ behalf, in a case that would get wrapped up as part of the historic Brown v. Board of Education decision that outlawed segregated schools.

more
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/dec/16/robert-e-lee-be-replaced-barbara-rose-johns-capito/

[mountaineer]

I would be happy to take the Lee statue off their hands. It turns out I'm descended from one of his brothers. Uncle Bobby!

Edit to add: I may be mistaken; my direct ancestor may be a brother of Robert E. Lee's grandfather. Still trying to sort it out.

[catfish1957]

I would be happy to take the Lee statue off their hands. It turns out I'm descended from one of his brothers. Uncle Bobby!

Wow...  that's some serious impressive genealogical linkage.  That means you are probably 3rd or 4th cousins of his present descendants.

Here is your ancestor...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Lee_III

[skeeter]

If this BS keeps up visiting Capitol Hill will be as interesting as touring most of what the Smithsonian museum has become. One big lecture in how sh*tty the US has been to minorities.

[mountaineer]

Figured it out: my great-great-great-great-great-grandfather was the brother of Robert E. Lee's father. Close enough! Ship the statue forthwith.

[catfish1957]

Figured it out: my great-great-great-great-great-grandfather was the brother of Robert E. Lee's father. Close enough! Ship the statue forthwith.

I have been severely disappointed in the SCV, in their silence in dealing with the statue issue.  At worst, they should have secured a location in a politically friendly area, and created a park with all the downed statues.  Then add and pay for security of said park.

[Hoodat]

The local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People sued on the students’ behalf, in a case that would get wrapped up as part of the historic Brown v. Board of Education decision that outlawed segregated schools.

How about a statue of Dwight Eisenhower, the Republican who actually did desegregate that school.