Robert E. Lee Statue Removed From US Capitol

VIRGINIA — A statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee was removed late Sunday night from the U.S. Capitol Building, according to a release from Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam's office. U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine and Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton were present for the removal, as was a representative from the governor's office.

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

Each state is entitled to display two statues in the National Statuary Hall Collection. Virginia installed two statues in 1909, one of Lee and another of President George Washington. Lee's statue was located in the Crypt of the Capitol, which contained a total of 13 statues, representing the original 13 colonies.

On July 24, the eight-member Commission for Historical Statues in the United States Capitol, which was established by Northam to study and removal of Lee's statue, voted unanimously to recommend the removal the statue. The Virginia Museum of History and Culture in Richmond has agreed to accept ownership of the statue.

“Confederate images do not represent who we are in Virginia, that’s why we voted unanimously to remove this statue,” said State Sen. Louise Lucas, who chaired the commission. “I am thrilled that this day has finally arrived, and I thank Governor Northam and the Commission for their transformative work.”

After receiving input from Virginia residents, the commission selected civil rights leader Barbara Rose Johns as the replacement for Lee's statue in the U.S. Capitol. In 1951, Johns, who was 16 at the time, led a student walkout of Robert Russa Moton High School in Farmville, in protest to overcrowding and inferior conditions at the all-Black school. The NAACP supported the students' action and filed a lawsuit that was included as one of the five cases reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, which declared segregation unconstitutional in 1954.

"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," Northam said.

Del. Jeion Ward, who sponsored the legislation creating the commission, applauded the removal of Lee's statue.

“As of this morning, Virginia will no longer honor the Confederacy in the halls of the United States Capitol,” Ward said. “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 start singing the songs of some of the Virginians who have done great things that have gone unnoticed. This is a proud moment for our Commonwealth, and I am humbled to have been a part of it.”

The General Assembly still needs to approve the choice of Johns as the replacement for Lee's statue. If approved, she would be the only teen represented in the collection. Northam introduced a budget that includes $500,000 to pay for the new statue.

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VA Panel Votes To Remove Robert E. Lee Statue From U.S. Capitol