Virginia removes three Confederate memorials
Years into efforts to purge Richmond, Virginia — a former Confederate Capital — of memorials honoring the Confederacy, the Commonwealth of Virginia began removing three more…
Virginia has taken steps to remove three Confederate memorials from Capitol Square in Richmond, marking progress in the ongoing effort to purge the city of symbols honoring the Confederacy. The statues of Confederate Generals Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson and Governor William "Extra Billy" Smith, along with Confederate Dr. Hunter Holmes McGuire, have stood in Capitol Square for over a century. The Virginia legislature mandated their removal during the 2026 session.
Former Democratic State Senator Adam Ebbin, who sponsored the legislation, clarified that this action does not alter the history of the Civil War. Instead, it represents a shift in the individuals chosen to be commemorated on the Capitol grounds. Senator Mike Jones, a fellow Democrat and sponsor of the bill, emphasized that these monuments are merely symbols and questioned whether such displays align with the Commonwealth's values.
The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation will preserve the statues, relocating them to sites within the Shenandoah Valley. The Virginia division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy maintained that these monuments were intended to serve as tributes to valor, sacrifice, and community heritage during a challenging period in American history.
They expressed their hope that the memorial and artwork will continue to be valuable educational resources, allowing the public to reflect and form their own perspectives on the displayed history.
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- Virginia removes three Confederate memorials winnipegfreepress.com
