Stonewall Jackson Rides Off Into a Rainy Sunset

Early Wednesday morning, Mayor Stoney asked City Council to vote to immediately remove the Confederate statues on Monument Avenue. City Council declined, citing procedural rules. A vote was scheduled for Thursday. Stoney was in no mood to wait. Wednesday afternoon a work crew with a crane and flatbed trailer descended on the Stonewall Jackson Monument at Arthur Ashe Boulevard and Monument. Upon arrival, they immediately went to work taking down Stonewall Jackson from his massive pedestal.

The mayor felt justified in his end-run around City Council stating, “As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to surge, and protestors attempt to take down Confederate statues themselves or confront others who are doing so, the risk grows for serious illness, injury, or death. We have an urgent need to protect the public.”

The early crowd.

The removal of the statue was unannounced but word quickly spread on social media. What started as a small crowd swelled to over 1,000.

The crowd from roughly the same spot closer about an hour later.

The process of removing the statue was slow and tedious. The mood of the crowd was celebratory.

At one point an individual quickly went the statue and waved a “Respect our Monuments” flag. Tensions quickly escalated as the crowd rushed towards him. Richmond Sherriffs quickly escorted the counter protestor from the area but not before his flag met an ignominious end.

Throughout the workers steadily prepared the statue for removal.

As the moment of truth approached so did the storm clouds. Heavy rain hit as Jackson was lifted into the air. The tension that had been building was released as the remaining folks cheered the Confederate generals removal.

At the time of this writing the work crew was setting up at the Maury memorial.