Robert E. Lee statue in Richmond to come down on Wednesday

RICHMOND, Va. — A ample statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee will beryllium removed from Monument Avenue successful Richmond 131 years aft it was erected and 156 years aft his surrender efficaciously ended the U.S. Civil War.

The authorities announced the statue's removal volition instrumentality spot connected Wednesday, Sept. 8.

The announcement came little than a week aft the Virginia Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the authorities could region the statue.

“Virginia’s largest monument to the Confederate insurrection volition travel down this week,” Virginia Governor Ralph Northam said successful a statement. “This is an important measurement successful showing who we are and what we worth arsenic a Commonwealth.”

Parking restrictions and roadworthy closures volition spell successful spot Tuesday, Sept. 7, arsenic the authorities puts up fencing on Monument Avenue and Allen Street.

Removal of the statue is scheduled to instrumentality spot the adjacent day.

"On Thursday, September 9, crews volition region the plaques from the basal of the monument and volition regenerate a clip capsule that is believed to beryllium located astatine the site," the announcement from the authorities read. "The 40‐foot granite pedestal volition stay for now. The pedestal’s last disposition volition beryllium determined pursuing a community‐driven effort to reimagine Monument Avenue, including the state‐owned spot surrounding the monument and the pedestal."

Where volition Lee go?

The Lee statue, according to the state, volition beryllium placed "in unafraid retention astatine a state‐owned facility" until a determination is made astir its last resting spot.

How tin I ticker the Lee statue's removal?

WTVR volition unrecorded watercourse portions of the removal connected WTVR.com and societal media channels.

There volition beryllium "limited" in-person viewing opportunities, according to the state.

"Public Viewing Protective fencing volition beryllium installed to guarantee the information of the crews removing the statue and those who take to presumption it successful person," according to the state. "This is indispensable owed to the statue’s determination successful a residential vicinity and its size. Limited viewing opportunities volition beryllium disposable connected a first‐come, first‐served basis."

The nationalist viewing conception on Monument Avenue adjacent the Lee monument tract opens astatine 8 a.m. connected Wednesday, September 8, and Thursday, September 9. You tin participate the viewing country from Stuart Circle.

This communicative was primitively published by unit astatine WTVR.