Robert E. Lee Statue: Difference between revisions

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[[File:RobertELee.JPG|200px|thumb|right]]
'''The Robert E. Lee Statue''' is located in [[Market Street Park]] and has been the center of controversy regarding its slated removal.
{{current}}
==History==
The statue was erected in 1924 after being given to the city by [[Paul Goodloe McIntire]]. <ref name=A>{{cite web|title= Lee Park|url=http://www.charlottesville.org/departments-and-services/departments-h-z/parks-recreation-/parks-trails/city-parks/emancipation-park-formerly-known-as-lee-park|author=|work=|publisher=City of Charlottesville|location=|publishdate=|accessdate=September 16, 2017}}</ref>
The statue was conceived by Henry M. Shrady, completed by Leo Lentelli, and presented to the City in 1924. <ref name=A/>  The reveal of the statue was celebrated with a reunion of confederate soldiers, a parade, and a speech by [[University of Virginia]] President, [[Edwin A. Alderman]]. <ref> Rourke. Kristen. "Marking History in Charlottesville." np. City Council Chambers, Charlottesville, VA. 30 May 2012. presentation. </ref>
“An equestrian monument conceived by Henry M. Shrady and completed after his death by Leo Lentelli. Presented May 21, 1924, it is located in [[Lee Park]] which had already been presented to the City by McIntire. No evidence of the cost of this work has been found despite diligent search. The records of both contracting parties has been destroyed but Leo Lentelli, who completed Shardy’s work and who has assisted Shrady on other similar art works, insisted that the correct figure of cost is $35,000.00” <ref>Marshall, James Collier. Research paper: “The Gifts of Paul Goodloe McIntire” Charlottesville, VA. April 30, 1958, excerpt from printed copy, collection of Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society.</ref>
==Calls for removal==
On March 22, 2016, Councilor [[Wes Bellamy]] and activist [[Zyahna Bryant]] held a press conference in what was then Lee Park to call for the Lee statue to be removed as well a renaming of the park. <ref>{{cite-cville|title=Rally to remove Robert E. Lee statue brings flagwavers|url=http://www.c-ville.com/rally-remove-robert-e-lee-statue-brings-flagwavers/#.WypW7adKhyx|author=Samantha Baars|pageno=|printno=|printdate=March 22, 2016|publishdate=March 22, 2016|accessdate=June 20, 2018}}</ref>
==Action for removal==
Council voted 3-2 on [[February 6]], [[2017]] to move the statue to a new location. <ref name="nbc29-suit">{{cite web|title=Groups File Lawsuit to Stop Removal of Confederate Statues|url=http://www.nbc29.com/story/34952736/groups-file-lawsuit-to-stop-removal-of-confederate-statues|author=NBC29 Staff|work=News Article|publisher=NBC29|location=Charlottesville, Virginia|publishdate=March 20, 2017|accessdate=September 16, 2017}}</ref>
The statue was briefly wrapped in a tarp under orders of [[City Council]].<ref>{{cite-progress|title=Three arrested as councilors vote to shroud Confederate statues at meeting overwhelmed by anger|url=http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/three-arrested-as-councilors-vote-to-shroud-confederate-statues-at/article_5a42f7a8-86d0-11e7-87a5-23ba81576181.html|author=Chris Suarez|pageno=A1|printdate=August 22, 2017|publishdate=August 22, 2017|accessdate=September 16, 2017}}</ref>  The tarp was repeatedly removed by citizens supporting the statue's existence. The tarp was decided to be a likely violation of the state's Memorials for War Veterans law and permanently removed by the City.  The statue is currently surrounded by orange safety fence with numerous signs indicating that that is a violation of city ordinance to go beyond the fence.
==Lawsuit over removal==
The group [[Virginia's Sons of Confederate Veterans]] filed a suit in March 2017 claiming that Council's action to remove the statue was illegal under Virginia law. The suit stated the statue and the [[Stonewall Jackson Statue]] are war memorials and protected. The suit asked for an injunction barring Council from moving the statue pending a ruling from [[Charlottesville Circuit Court]] Judge [[Robert Moore]]. <ref>{{cite web|title=Lawsuit seeks to stop removal of Confederate statue in Virginia|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/lawsuit-seeks-to-stop-removal-of-confederate-statue-in-virginia/2017/03/24/62df23ca-0fe6-11e7-8fed-dbb23e393b15_story.html?utm_term=.1d3fa2dfda7d|author=Justin Wm. Moyer|work=News Article|publisher=Washington Post|location=|publishdate=March 24, 2017|accessdate=September 16, 2017}}</ref> <ref name="nbc29-suit" />
At a hearing on September 1, Moore asked the public to stop contacting his office to sway the decision. That hearing was on a motion for the judge to dismiss the suit based on a 1997 amendment to state law that extended protection of war memorials to cities. At the hearing, Moore did state the plaintiffs had standing. <ref>{{cite web|title=Charlottesville judge delays ruling on challenge to Confederate statue removal; asks groups to stop calling his office|url=http://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/charlottesville-judge-delays-ruling-on-challenge-to-confederate-statue-removal/article_bc05acae-f7c3-5d52-9959-d10504b5f98b.html|author=Ned Oliver|work=News Articlee|publisher=Richmond Times-Dispatch|location=|publishdate=September 1, 2017|accessdate=September 16, 2017}}</ref>
===Plaintiffs===
There are 11 individuals and two organizations who are plaintiffs in the lawsuit. This list is in order of appearance in the brief filed in [[Charlottesville Circuit Court]] on [[March 20]], [[2017]]:
*[[Frederick W. Payne]]
*[[Jock Yellott]]
*[[Edward D. Tayloe II]]
*[[Betty Jane Franklin Phillips]]
*[[Edward Bergen Fry]]
*[[Virginia C. Amiss]]
*[[Stefanie Marshall]]
*[[Charles L. Weber, Jr.]]
*[[Lloyd Thomas Smith, Jr.]]
*[[Virginia's Sons of Confederate Veterans]]
*[[Anthony M. Griffin]]
*[[Britton Franklin Earnest, Sr.]]
*[[The Monument Fund]]
===Defendants===
The suit names the [[City of Charlottesville]] and the five members of [[City Council]] as defendants.
===Suit materials===
*[http://www.cvillepedia.org/mediawiki/images/20170320-Plaintiff-Complaint-on-Lee-Statue-Removal.pdf March 20, 2017 complaint from plaintiffs against statue removal]
*[http://www.cvillepedia.org/mediawiki/images/20170320-Plaintiff-Injunction-on-Lee-Statue-Removal.pdf March 20, 2017 injunction request from plaintiffs to stop statue removal]
*[http://www.cvillepedia.org/mediawiki/images/20170712-brief-in-support-of-defendants-demurrer.pdf July 10, 2017 brief in support of city's request for demurrer]
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[[File:RobertELee.JPG|200px|thumb|right]]
 
'''The Robert E. Lee Statue''' is located in [[Lee Park]].  It was given to the City by [[Paul Goodloe McIntire]].<ref name=A>{{cite web|title= Lee Park|url=http://www.charlottesville.org/index.aspx?page=354|author=|work=|publisher=City of Charlottesville|location=|publishdate=|accessdate=18 Mar 2012}}</ref> The statue was conceived by Henry M. Shrady, completed by Leo Lentelli, and presented to the City in 1924. <ref name=A/>
==References==
==References==
<references/>
{{reflist}}
 
[[Category: Statues]]

Revision as of 20:46, 16 August 2019

RobertELee.JPG

The Robert E. Lee Statue is located in Market Street Park and has been the center of controversy regarding its slated removal.


Ambox notice.png This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses.

History

The statue was erected in 1924 after being given to the city by Paul Goodloe McIntire. [1]

The statue was conceived by Henry M. Shrady, completed by Leo Lentelli, and presented to the City in 1924. [1] The reveal of the statue was celebrated with a reunion of confederate soldiers, a parade, and a speech by University of Virginia President, Edwin A. Alderman. [2]

“An equestrian monument conceived by Henry M. Shrady and completed after his death by Leo Lentelli. Presented May 21, 1924, it is located in Lee Park which had already been presented to the City by McIntire. No evidence of the cost of this work has been found despite diligent search. The records of both contracting parties has been destroyed but Leo Lentelli, who completed Shardy’s work and who has assisted Shrady on other similar art works, insisted that the correct figure of cost is $35,000.00” [3]

Calls for removal

On March 22, 2016, Councilor Wes Bellamy and activist Zyahna Bryant held a press conference in what was then Lee Park to call for the Lee statue to be removed as well a renaming of the park. [4]

Action for removal

Council voted 3-2 on February 6, 2017 to move the statue to a new location. [5]

The statue was briefly wrapped in a tarp under orders of City Council.[6] The tarp was repeatedly removed by citizens supporting the statue's existence. The tarp was decided to be a likely violation of the state's Memorials for War Veterans law and permanently removed by the City. The statue is currently surrounded by orange safety fence with numerous signs indicating that that is a violation of city ordinance to go beyond the fence.

Lawsuit over removal

The group Virginia's Sons of Confederate Veterans filed a suit in March 2017 claiming that Council's action to remove the statue was illegal under Virginia law. The suit stated the statue and the Stonewall Jackson Statue are war memorials and protected. The suit asked for an injunction barring Council from moving the statue pending a ruling from Charlottesville Circuit Court Judge Robert Moore. [7] [5]

At a hearing on September 1, Moore asked the public to stop contacting his office to sway the decision. That hearing was on a motion for the judge to dismiss the suit based on a 1997 amendment to state law that extended protection of war memorials to cities. At the hearing, Moore did state the plaintiffs had standing. [8]

Plaintiffs

There are 11 individuals and two organizations who are plaintiffs in the lawsuit. This list is in order of appearance in the brief filed in Charlottesville Circuit Court on March 20, 2017:

Defendants

The suit names the City of Charlottesville and the five members of City Council as defendants.

Suit materials



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References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Web. Lee Park, City of Charlottesville, retrieved September 16, 2017.
  2. Rourke. Kristen. "Marking History in Charlottesville." np. City Council Chambers, Charlottesville, VA. 30 May 2012. presentation.
  3. Marshall, James Collier. Research paper: “The Gifts of Paul Goodloe McIntire” Charlottesville, VA. April 30, 1958, excerpt from printed copy, collection of Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society.
  4. Web. Rally to remove Robert E. Lee statue brings flagwavers, Samantha Baars, C-VILLE Weekly, Portico Publications, March 22, 2016, retrieved June 20, 2018. Print. March 22, 2016 .
  5. 5.0 5.1 Web. Groups File Lawsuit to Stop Removal of Confederate Statues, NBC29 Staff, News Article, NBC29, Charlottesville, Virginia, March 20, 2017, retrieved September 16, 2017.
  6. Web. Three arrested as councilors vote to shroud Confederate statues at meeting overwhelmed by anger, Chris Suarez, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, August 22, 2017, retrieved September 16, 2017. Print. August 22, 2017 page A1.
  7. Web. Lawsuit seeks to stop removal of Confederate statue in Virginia, Justin Wm. Moyer, News Article, Washington Post, March 24, 2017, retrieved September 16, 2017.
  8. Web. Charlottesville judge delays ruling on challenge to Confederate statue removal; asks groups to stop calling his office, Ned Oliver, News Articlee, Richmond Times-Dispatch, September 1, 2017, retrieved September 16, 2017.