RICHMOND, Va. -- As Confederate monuments come down in the City of Richmond, a local organization is raising money to cover the costs.
Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney has said that it would cost $1.8 million to remove 11 statues in the city. He said the money would come from the Department of Public Works and be reimbursed by a private fund.
The Maggie Walker Community Land Trust is organizing fundraising efforts with The Fund to Move the Monuments.
The group is collecting donations through GoFundMe and the Facebook Fundraising platform. If you would like to donate by check, they can be mailed payable to Maggie Walker Community Land Trust, to 8975 Three Chopt Road, Richmond, VA 23229.("Move the Monuments" in the memo line.)
"The will of the people has brought us to this moment. Now, with your help, the will of the people will help finish the job," the group wrote on its website. "With your support, we can raise the funds needed to finally remove these highly visible vestiges of systemic racism and oppression from our thoroughfares."
As of Thursday afternoon, more than $6,000 had been raised.
The Stonewall Jackson statue was removed from Monument Avenue on Wednesday and the Maury statue was removed Wednesday morning. The mayors says the remaining statues will be removed over the next few days.
Organizers say The Move the Monuments funds will be directed to the City of Richmond, with the explicit stipulation they be spent only on direct expenses related to removal of the city-owned Confederate monuments.
Any excess funds will reallocated to Richmond Public Schools.
