‘One down, many more to go’: Richmond mayor orders removal of all Confederate statues on city land

“Fellow Richmonders, today I order the immediate removal of Confederate monuments from their pedestals,” the mayor said. “This work, already underway, will continue over the next several days.”

Stoney said he prefers the process go through legal avenues rather than have protesters attempting to remove the statues themselves and putting their safety at risk. He also stated that he wanted to mitigate crowding in outdoor spaces to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

Protesters ripped down a monument of Confederate President Jefferson Davis in Richmond earlier this month, and they have had their eye on other monuments, including one depicting Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.

Stoney said it is time to “turn the page” on history.

“These statues, although symbolic, have cast a shadow on the dreams of our children of color. By removing them, we can begin to heal and focus all our attention on our future,” Stoney said, adding the move would not solve racial injustice but would be a “down payment” for past errors.

Hundreds of protesters gathered at a Stonewall Jackson monument on Monument Avenue as crews began taking down the Confederate general’s statue in the afternoon.

“This is long overdue,” said Brent Holmes, a black man in attendance as the statue was removed. “One down, many more to go.”