Virginia removes Lee statue from Capitol, hopes to exchange it with teenage civil rights icon

By Last updated Dec 21, 2020

WASHINGTON (WDBJ) – A statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee was removed from the U.S. Capitol overnight.

Governor Ralph Northam made the announcement on Monday. A representative from the governor’s office was there along with Senator Tim Kaine and Congressman Jennifer Wexton.

Two statues from each state are available for display in the National Statuary Hall Collection. Along with a statue of George Washington, the Lee statue has been Virginia’s contribution for the past 111 years. According to a discharge from the governor’s office, the two statues were added in 1909 – 44 years after the defeat of the Confederation.

The Lee statue was one of 13 in the Capitol’s crypt and represented the 13 original colonies.

“We should all be proud of this important step forward for our Commonwealth and our country,” said Governor Northam.

Governor Northam signed a bill in 2020 that established the Historic Statues Commission for the United States Capitol. This eight-person commission was formed to investigate the removal and replacement of the Lee statue. On July 24th, a unanimous vote recommended the removal of the statue.

The Virginia Museum of History and Culture in Richmond will now own the statue.

“Confederate pictures do not represent who we are in Virginia, so we unanimously voted to remove this statue,” said Senator Louise Lucas, chairwoman of the commission. “I am thrilled that the day has finally come and I thank Governor Northam and the Commission for their transformative work.”

On December 16, civil rights icon Barbara Rose Johns was selected by the commission to replace the Lee statue. The decision was made following public contributions from the Virginians during several virtual hearings.

In 1951, 16-year-old Barbara Johns led a strike at Robert Russa Moton High School in Farmville, protesting the overcrowded and inferior conditions of the all-black school compared to those of white students at nearby Farmville High School. The protest was supported by two NAACP attorneys who filed a lawsuit that would later become one of five lawsuits considered by the US Supreme Court in Brown against Topeka’s Board of Education. This landmark case declared segregation unconstitutional in 1954. Historians regard John’s protest as a pivotal moment in the American desegregation movement.

“Starting this morning, Virginia will no longer honor the Confederation in the halls of the United States Capitol,” said Delegate Jeion Ward, who supported legislation creating the commission. “When I think of Barbara Johns, I am reminded of how brave she was at such a young age. It’s time for us to sing the songs of some Virginians who did great things that went unnoticed. This is a proud moment for our Commonwealth and I am humble to have been a part of it. “

“The Confederation is a symbol of Virginia’s racist and divisive history, and it is time we told our story with images of persistence, diversity and inclusion. I look forward to seeing a groundbreaking young woman in color representing Virginia at the US Capitol, where visitors will learn about Barbara John’s contributions to America and how she will be empowered to make positive change in her communities, ”said Governor Northam.

According to the governor’s office, the general assembly must approve the replacement before a sculptor can be hired. If approved, Johns would be the only teenager represented in the collection.

Governor Northam has included $ 500,000 in his budget proposal to replace the statue.