On Wednesday, work crews in Richmond, Virginia removed a statue of Gen. Stonewall Jackson from the pedestal on which it has stood since 1890 in a move that has generated plenty of discussion on social media. The statue’s removal had followed the June removal of a statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis in the city and had been ordered by Mayor Levar Stoney amid a push for such monuments to controversial people of this country’s past to be taken down.
BREAKING: Stonewall Jackson statue in Richmond is down. @NBC12 pic.twitter.com/EkpSxooCjt
— Henry Graff (@HenryGraff) July 1, 2020
In front of a large crowd people, work crews began the delicate removal process, which took several hours at 1 p.m., with the gathered crowd cheering them along. Speaking with the Associated Press, Eli Swann, a resident of Richmond for nearly 25 years, said he felt “an overwhelming sense of gratitude” and said the removal was a sign that “change is coming about.” Brent Holmes added that “this is long overdue.”
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The statue of Jackson is just one of roughly a dozen Confederate statues on municipal land scheduled to be removed in Richmond. In recent weeks, several dozen Confederate symbols across the United States have been ordered to be removed, with those statues including representations of Christopher Columbus, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, and others. The removals, including the removal of the Jackson statue in Richmond, have sparked heated discussions on social media, with many applauding the move while others still petition for such statues to remain standing, arguing that removing them is erasing history. Keep scrolling to see what social media has to say.
Stonewall Jackson has been removed in RVA. The sky opened up just before. As the crane lifted, thunder roared and church bells began to ring. Wow. #rva pic.twitter.com/UJ2BbmAqdR
— Lauren Serpa Photographs (@SerpaLerpa) July 1, 2020
This is wonderful. Don’t let anyone tell you that protesting doesn’t work. I hope everyone celebrates this achievement for #BlackLivesMatter & humanity. And, that we keep working until the quality is real.
— Langdon Bosarge (@HeyLangdon) July 1, 2020
Keep it going. Let’s replace them all with black activist, suffragists and abolitionists. Some Malcolm X, maybe big bronze Nat Turner in the rose garden…
— Herb Heller (@HerbHeller) July 1, 2020
Beauty!! Today is a GOOD day. Another ugly symbol toppled, but never erased. May the TRUTH be told. It will be easier to tell now. Congratulations! from🇨🇦 @LevarStoney
— always vote (@always_vote) July 1, 2020
Seeing that happen really hurts me. The true value of those types of statues is going to be lost if they are all made to ‘disappear’, and those who believe their removal means the end of human prejudice, or what is being called ‘racism’ right now, are sadly mistaken. 😒
— Christine Chiomento (@GoldStarMom2872) July 2, 2020
Great start. Now can we reform the police and the criminal justice system?
— Matt Cesca (@Nightshade386) July 1, 2020
best thign of 2020 so far
— SineQuaNonPeace (@SineQuaNonLove) July 1, 2020
It’s a lovely piece of artwork. Too bad it isn’t a representation of a more worthy person.
— Peggy Stuart (@PeggyStuart) July 2, 2020
That thing stood 130 years and 32 days too long.
— WEAR A MASK ARREST BREONNA’S KILLERS🏳️🌈 (@kesslerpots) July 2, 2020
After growin’ up with this, I’m please as peaches to see it finally coming down–all over the place too.
— Chooglin AntiFa (@Chooglin1) July 1, 2020
Removing this statue is good, but it doesn’t dismantle systematic racism that still plagues the black community in Richmond.
— Ano Ali (@AnoAli20) July 1, 2020
🙋♂️Raise your hand if you believe that all Confederate Monuments should be removed.
— Steve Herzfeld 🌊 (@american2084) July 1, 2020
It’s not disrespect. It’s the right thing to do. I don’t want to honor something like that. It should just be put in a museum.
— Dillon Bernie2020 🌹⏳ (@Dillon2592) July 1, 2020
Good riddance. He was a horrible human being and should not be celebrated in any way, shape or form.
— Katiedid 😷 🌊 (@IrishNorsewoman) July 1, 2020
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