Robert E. Lee was a prominent Confederate general during the American Civil War, and there have been various statues and monuments erected in his honour. The controversy surrounding these statues has been a topic of significant public debate and discussion in the United States. Here are some facts about a notable Robert E. Lee statue:
Robert E. Lee statue history and facts
- Monument Avenue Statue: One of the most well-known statues of Robert E. Lee stood on Monument Avenue in Richmond, Virginia. This statue was unveiled in 1890 and was one of several Confederate monuments on this prominent avenue.
- Artist and Design: The statue was created by the French sculptor Jean Antonin Mercié. It depicted General Lee sitting on his horse, Traveller, and was mounted on a 40-foot-tall pedestal.
- Confederate General: Robert E. Lee was the commanding general of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia during the American Civil War. His military leadership and strategies made him a symbol of the Confederacy.
- Controversy: In recent years, the presence of Confederate statues, including the one of Robert E. Lee, has generated controversy and debate. Critics argue that these monuments glorify individuals associated with slavery and the Confederacy, while supporters often view them as historical relics or symbols of Southern heritage.
- Removal: In response to the debate and protests, some cities and states have chosen to remove Confederate statues, including the one of Robert E. Lee. The statue on Monument Avenue in Richmond, Virginia, was removed in September 2021.
- Legal Battles: The removal of such statues has been subject to legal battles, with some arguing that it infringes on historical preservation or that it erases a part of American history. Others contend that the statues represent symbols of racism and oppression and should be taken down.
- Public Opinion: Public opinion on the removal of these statues is divided, reflecting broader debates about how the United States should reckon with its complex history of slavery, the Civil War, and the legacy of the Confederacy.
Recent News:
After a progression of claims, the sculpture was at last eliminated in 2021 to much display. It had been sitting in a stockroom in an undisclosed area until considerably more claims cleared their path through the justice system. Then, at that point, on 26 September this year, the last claim finished. The sculpture could be melted down.
At a foundry last end of the week, with fire bursting and hostile to bigoted activists watching, the sculpture of the Confederate general Robert E Lee that ignited the lethal 2017 Charlottesville white patriot revolt was chopped into pieces and broke down to fluid metal
Alongside different activists, Schmidt ventured out from Charlottesville to watch the softening at the foundry, which coordinators will just recognise as being “some place in the south” out of worries for the actual wellbeing of the foundry labourers.
“It was very solemn. Nobody cheering, nothing like that. It was very quiet. People weren’t even talking,” she said.
“The process required hours. We were outside and night had fallen. The sculpture’s face, veil like, started to gleam,” said one activist present there. ” At one second, adjusted on the searing heater, it appeared as though Lee’s bronze face was crying”
Brass from the statue of the Confederate general will be used for a public art installation in Virginia city