The city of Richmond has definitely learned a few things.
In preparation for removing the Robert E Lee statue, all streets in a two-block radius from the intersection of N. Allen and Monument have been closed to traffic (parking was closed off at 6 pm yesterday). This morning, I woke up to find the only way to leave my building was through the back alley — the Monument Ave. sidewalk is completely fenced off. There are patrolmen, K-9 units, and “Firearms prohibited” signs posted prominently. Which, considering the North Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia-plated motorcycles and their tattooed, Confederate-flag wearing riders I saw making laps and tooling up and down my back alley, is definitely a good idea.
Don’t get me wrong — I don’t expect any real trouble, mostly because the city is on top of it. These yahoos only seem to be bold in places where there are no consequences — and after Charlottesville, Virginia has made it very clear there will be consequences.
And while I would kinda like a better view of the proceedings, the precautions taken this time around are really a relief. My heart was in my mouth during this removal — although the contractor did a very clean, professional job of it despite the crowds and relative lack of room (click the link for a cool article on his story):
In comparison Lee is going out, not with a bang, but a metaphorical whimper and the whine of hydraulic cranes.
You can watch the whole removal here: richmond.com/… but here’s the best part — liftoff! With a rousing chorus of Hey Hey Goodbye, just for good measure :-)
So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye!
Update: they are now chunking Lee into pieces because he’s too big to transport whole. Pictures at the link ‘cause I can’t get close enough to get good ones: richmond.com/…
(for the sake of accuracy: the statue was originally cast in pieces, being far too large to transport and raise into position any other way. It’s being taken apart in the same fashion. I am not always immune to the lure of hyperbole — but technically what I wrote was accurate! Just incomplete...)