A Virginia judge has ordered a 10-day halt to Governor Ralph Northam’s plan to remove a statue of Robert E. Lee statue on Richmond’s historic Monument Ave.
Northam announced on June 4 that the monument would come down, after days of heated protests rocked the city.
“The monuments we put in the middle of our cities should be of people we aspire to be,” said Rachel Pais, a protester near the Lee monument.
Police were widely criticized a day later for deploying tear gas on a crowd of nonviolent protesters at the Lee monument.
“To our peaceful protesters: We are sorry we had to deploy gas near the Lee Monument.
Less than two hours after the police department’s explanation, the department issued another tweet: “Chief [Will] Smith just reviewed video of gas being deployed by RPD officers near the Lee Monument and apologizes for this unwarranted action.
