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| Northam calls Lee statues ‘offensive’, promotes efforts to boost black history | Northam calls Lee statues ‘offensive’, promotes efforts to boost black history |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| RICHMOND — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said Thursday that the statues of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee in the state Capitol and on this city's Monument Avenue are "offensive" and that he supports creating a commission to recommend a replacement for the statue of Lee that represents Virginia in the National Statuary Hall of the U.S. Capitol. | RICHMOND — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said Thursday that the statues of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee in the state Capitol and on this city's Monument Avenue are "offensive" and that he supports creating a commission to recommend a replacement for the statue of Lee that represents Virginia in the National Statuary Hall of the U.S. Capitol. |
| “These monuments tell a particular version of history that doesn’t include everyone,” Northam said. “In Virginia, that version of history has been given prominence and authority for far too long.” | “These monuments tell a particular version of history that doesn’t include everyone,” Northam said. “In Virginia, that version of history has been given prominence and authority for far too long.” |
| The governor made the comments during a news conference urging the new Democratic majorities in the General Assemby to pass several measures aimed at devoting more resources and attention to black history. Those include paying for maintenance at historic black cemeteries; setting aside money for new historical markers featuring African Americans; funding a full-time state historic cemetery preservationist; and spending $2.4 million for Alexandria to expand a museum at Freedom House, the former headquarters of a notorious slave-trading company. | The governor made the comments during a news conference urging the new Democratic majorities in the General Assemby to pass several measures aimed at devoting more resources and attention to black history. Those include paying for maintenance at historic black cemeteries; setting aside money for new historical markers featuring African Americans; funding a full-time state historic cemetery preservationist; and spending $2.4 million for Alexandria to expand a museum at Freedom House, the former headquarters of a notorious slave-trading company. |
| Alexandria plans to buy Freedom House, former slave pen now home to a museum | Alexandria plans to buy Freedom House, former slave pen now home to a museum |
| Joined by African American lawmakers who praised his efforts, Northam again tried to show how far he has come in atoning for last year’s blackface scandal. | Joined by African American lawmakers who praised his efforts, Northam again tried to show how far he has come in atoning for last year’s blackface scandal. |
| “We’ll continue to do everything we can to right the wrongs of the past,” he told reporters after the event. | “We’ll continue to do everything we can to right the wrongs of the past,” he told reporters after the event. |
| The governor almost resigned last February over a photo on his 1984 medical school yearbook page of someone in blackface and another person in Ku Klux Klan robes. Northam first apologized for the photo, then disavowed it but later admitted that he once darkened his face for a dance contest. In defying calls to step down, he pledged to devote the rest of his term to fighting racial inequity. | The governor almost resigned last February over a photo on his 1984 medical school yearbook page of someone in blackface and another person in Ku Klux Klan robes. Northam first apologized for the photo, then disavowed it but later admitted that he once darkened his face for a dance contest. In defying calls to step down, he pledged to devote the rest of his term to fighting racial inequity. |
| Even before the scandal, Northam had been among the first public figures to call for Confederate statues to come down after the violence at the white-supremacist Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville in August 2017. | |
| But his comments Thursday — particularly about the statue inside Virginia’s own Capitol — appeared to be the furthest he has gone in condemning Confederate memorials. Virginia has more of those than any other state. | But his comments Thursday — particularly about the statue inside Virginia’s own Capitol — appeared to be the furthest he has gone in condemning Confederate memorials. Virginia has more of those than any other state. |
| A statue of Lee stands in the Old House Chamber on the spot where the general assumed command of Virginia’s armed forces during the Civil War. Asked about it Thursday, Northam initially responded that he thinks that statue to be under the control of the legislature. | A statue of Lee stands in the Old House Chamber on the spot where the general assumed command of Virginia’s armed forces during the Civil War. Asked about it Thursday, Northam initially responded that he thinks that statue to be under the control of the legislature. |
| Pressed for his personal position on that statute and the one on Monument Avenue, he said: “Yes, I do have an opinion. They’re offensive to a lot of people. And one of the points of what we’re doing this morning is to make sure that Virginia is equitable and inclusive, but it’s a discussion that needs to take place with a number of individuals.” | |
| There are no bills seeking the removal of the statue inside the Capitol, though various interest groups have raised the prospect. | There are no bills seeking the removal of the statue inside the Capitol, though various interest groups have raised the prospect. |
| This week, the Richmond City Council passed a resolution asking the General Assembly for authority to remove Monument Avenue’s Confederate statues, including the grand equestrian statue of Lee that stands on state property. The city of Charlottesville has sought similar authority. Northam said he supports bills sponsored by Sen. R. Creigh Deeds (D-Bath) and Del. Sally L. Hudson (D-Charlottesville) that would give localities such authority. | |
| Historic black cemeteries seeking the same support Virginia gives Confederates | Historic black cemeteries seeking the same support Virginia gives Confederates |
| Northam also called on the General Assembly to pass bills sponsored by Del. Delores L. McQuinn (D-Richmond) and Sen. Mamie E. Locke (D-Hampton) that would make historic African American cemeteries eligible for state grants for maintenance and memorials. | |
| In addition, Northam’s proposed two-year state budget includes funding to restore a historic African American recreational area in Allegheny County called Green Pastures, as well as money for boosting African American history lessons for public school students. Northam also has urged the General Assembly to repeal racist language that persists in state code, including the 1924 Racial Integrity Act that nearly eliminated records of Native American tribes by requiring that all residents be classified as either “white” or “colored.” | |
| “I applaud the governor and his staff for their focus on historic justice as we move forward,” McQuinn said at the news conference. | “I applaud the governor and his staff for their focus on historic justice as we move forward,” McQuinn said at the news conference. |
| There was one memorial, though, on which Northam hesitated to take a position: the statue of former Virginia governor and U.S. senator Harry F. Byrd on Capitol Square. Byrd, a Democrat, was the architect of Virginia’s “massive resistance” strategy against the racial integration of schools in the 1950s. | |
| Newly elected Republican Del. Wendell S. Walker (Lynchburg) has submitted a bill calling for that statue’s removal. | |
| “There are over 2,000 pieces of legislation. They’ll be vetted by both the House and Senate,” Northam said when asked about that bill. “Rather than get into hypotheticals, I will give it consideration if it gets to my desk.” | “There are over 2,000 pieces of legislation. They’ll be vetted by both the House and Senate,” Northam said when asked about that bill. “Rather than get into hypotheticals, I will give it consideration if it gets to my desk.” |
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