Robert E. Lee statue removed from US Capitol
By Dominick Mastrangelo - 12/21/20 08:25 AM EST
A statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee was removed from the U.S. Capitol overnight.
The statue has stood with one of 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.
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, a Democrat, announced on Monday the state will seek to have it replaced with a statue of civil rights icon Barbara Johns.
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“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.â€
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https://thehill.com/homenews/531103-robert-e-lee-statue-removed-from-us-capitol