RICHMOND, Va. -- The Commission for Historical Statues in the United States Capitol voted unanimously to remove the Robert E. Lee from National Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol.
The Commission made its recommendation following a virtual public meeting hosted by the Department of Historic Resources.
#BREAKING: Unanimous approval from the "Commission For Historical Statues In The United States Capitol" to remove the statue of Robert E. Lee from the U.S. Capitol.@CBS6 pic.twitter.com/y0zYEvqV7o
— Cam Thompson (@CamThompsonCBS6) July 24, 2020
Governor Ralph Northam, who testified before the Commission in favor of removing the statue, applauded the decision Friday.
“The Robert E. Lee statue does not tell our full and true story, and it has never represented all Virginians,” said Governor Northam. “I commend the Commission’s righteous decision to remove this relic from the halls of Congress and replace it with a new statue that embodies the inclusive Commonwealth we aspire to be.”
Northam will transmit the Commission’s decision to the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress and request the immediate removal of the Lee statue.
The Commission will now work to recommend a replacement for the Lee statue in National Statuary Hall Collection and recommend it to the General Assembly.
The Commission is required to hold at least one public hearing prior to making any recommendation to the General Assembly on a new statue.
The replacement must be "a prominent Virginia citizen of historic renown or renowned for distinguished civil or military."
Stay with CBS 6 for the latest on this developing story.
