Historic change due on Monument

I read with joy early this morning as friends' feeds shared news stories & articles with regard to the intended removal of the statue of General Lee from Monument Avenue. 
When I first moved to Richmond,  my Civil War knowledge was pretty scant & my initial understanding was that these monuments and memorials were of heroes from that era. Heroes only to some, however.

This last week, the local protests have dominated RVA's news channels. Similarly for the over-spill from non-violent to violent action. I struggle to condone these acts of violence on Boulevard and Broad which led to shop or restaurant windows being broken; a dumpster set on fire near a home or on West Broad, directly outside of VA Rep. Those businesses don't deserve to suffer and yet. ... Nor do the black community, African-Americans, people of colour deserve to suffer either and yet for many, daily discrimination is a reality. 

Some of Monument's statues are now defaced and graffitied, 
both the profane & the sacred: Black Lives Matter, Solidarity, One Love...

Photo by my friend, SG

Source: Richmond is Burning, Again ~ Style Weekly

Monument Avenue's Confederate statues are no newcomers to press coverage. Following events in Charlottesville in 2017, the monuments became an even more heightened source of debate & contention. At the time - whilst other statues were removed in DC, KY, FL, MO, NY, WI - those in Richmond remained in situ.

Source - Style Weekly: "Is Monument Avenue set in stone?" April 2017

But in light of nationwide protests following on from George Floyd's horrifying and unnecessary death, it's signalled a sea change from Governor Northam: enough is enough. I applaud his decision and the debate it's now re-opened up for Mayor Stoney in regard to the rest.

 BLM gathering point at Lee's statue by my friend, LR

From the New York Times:  
Virginia Governor Plans to Order Robert E. Lee Statue Removed

Washington Post looking back on Lee's legacy & the statue itself:  When Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s statue arrived in Richmond in 1890, it was greeted by 10,000 admirers

... but even back then, still not everyone was in favour (Credit: Hampton Newsome).