Everyone is well aware of the eruption throughout America after the unfortunate murder of an innocent George Floyd. Since then, citizens have been making a more valiant effort to erase all aspects and reminders of racism that have been instilled in today’s environment. Many complaints have been made and listened to about the famous Robert E. Lee statue that sits in the former Confederate state of Richmond, Virginia. After continuous objections to the statue’s meaning and reason for still being honored, Democratic Governor Ralph Northam officially declared for the statue’s eviction during the summer of 2020. “Any remnant like this that glorifies the lost cause of the Civil War, it needs to come down,” Northam said in a public statement.
As of September 8, 2021, the statue was removed from its original position and cut into pieces in front of local viewers, symbolizing the turning of a new page for racism in America. The bronze figure was put in the same spot and position it was lifted from back in 1890 and stands at an intimidating 21 feet tall, resting on top of a granite base that stands approximately twice as tall as the sculpture itself. It stood as one of many Confederate statues in the heart of Richmond and now resides as one of the last to be taken away; the rest were abruptly taken away by the town over the course of last summer.
Hundreds of people gathered to witness this historical move for their state. Cheers from the crowd broke out as the statue was initially lifted from the ground and “a new era in Virginia” was born. “Whose streets? Our streets!… Hey, hey, hey, goodbye,” was being sung and chanted throughout the entire removal process. It is safe to say the majority of citizens noticed that this play was necessary in order to move forward in our country as a whole unit instead of being divided by our color.