Crowd Surrounds Pro-Statue Protester in Richmond

A pro-statue protester was surrounded by a crowd gathered to watch the removal of a statue of Confederate general Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson from Richmond, Virginia’s Monument Avenue on July 1.

A crew hoisted the statue off its base after Mayor Levar Stoney used emergency powers to order the removal of all Confederate statues and monuments in the city.

Stoney presented two reasons for the removals to the city council, the City of Richmond said, which he later outlined in a video statement.

“Failure to remove the statues now poses a severe, immediate, and growing threat to public safety,” Stoney said, citing the risk of protesters attempting to pull the statues down, confrontations among protesters, and coronavirus transmission. Stoney said his and the governor’s declarations of emergency in the city had authorized him, as mayor, to make the decision.

Additionally, Stoney said it was “past time” to remove the monuments, saying the city’s residents, in particular people of color, had been burdened with the legacy of Richmond as the capital of the Confederacy.

“These statues, although symbolic, have cast a shadow on the dreams of our children of color,” Stoney said. “By removing them, we can begin to heal and focus all our attention on our future.”

This video shows a crowd surrounding a pro-statue protester at the statue’s base. The man was holding a flag with the words “Respect protect & save our Confederate monuments.” He was led away by sheriff’s deputies, according to local reporter Brad Kutner, and VPM news reported that the man was arrested. Credit: Steve Humble/VPM News via Storyful