Good news for Americans and citizens around the world who are against racism, KKK, neo-Nazism and white supremacy: the Robert E. Lee monumental statue at renowned Duke University in the former Confederate state of North Carolina—has been removed. The Associated Press reports:
The university said it removed the carved limestone likeness early Saturday morning from Duke Chapel where it stood among 10 historical figures depicted in the entryway. Another statue of Lee was at the heart of a violent protest in Charlottesville, Virginia, that turned deadly a week ago.
University president Vincent Price said in a letter to the campus community that he consulted with faculty, staff, students and alumni about the decision to remove the statue. Officials discovered early Thursday that the statue’s face had been damaged by vandalism.
“I took this course of action to protect Duke Chapel, to ensure the vital safety of students and community members who worship there, and above all to express the deep and abiding values of our university,” Price said in the letter.
Governor Roy Cooper (D-North Carolina) has reportedly urged all Confederate monuments be removed from public property—statewide. This will most likely not happen anytime soon due to a 2015 state law restricting such removals. However, Duke is a private university and “outside the scope of that law.”
This can be considered another victory for #The Resistance. And in light of last week’s deadly Charlottesville terror attack during a neo-Nazi white supremacist rally and counter-protest, this is also a tribute to Heather Heyer who was murdered and to all the counter protestors of racism who were injured.
And we march on.
Saturday, Aug 19, 2017 · 6:01:15 PM +00:00 · Leslie Salzillo
UPDATE: Also happening in Boston: Over 20,000 people came out to counter-protest against the approximately 100 white supremacists. The numbers alone are a statement of what’s always been great about the majority of Americans. Here is one short video from Twitter:
Cheers to people/peaceful Resistance who are showing up around the country.