Virginia officials announce plan to give Confederate statues to Black History Museum

Virginia officials have announced plans to give removed Confederate statues to the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, including a massive statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee that was removed from Richmond earlier this year.

The initiative, announced by outgoing Gov. Ralph Northam (D) and Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney (D), will let the Black History Museum work with The Valentine museum in Richmond and the local community to determine the fate of the monuments, The Associated Press reported. 

The agreement will require approval from Richmond’s city council, which Stoney said he would seek next month, according to the AP. In a statement, Stoney said the arrangement will allow the community to take a deliberate approach in its reckoning with such divisive symbols.

“Entrusting the future of these monuments and pedestals to two of our most respected institutions is the right thing to do,” Stoney said.

The Richmond mayor initially pushed for removing Confederate statues last summer in the aftermath of the police killing of George Floyd and the subsequent national unrest. Northam also pushed to remove the Lee monument, but it was held up by litigation until this year.

Many removed statues have been in storage, and some pedestals — including for Lee — are still being removed.