RICHMOND, Va. — A state work crew in Virginia spent Monday morning trying to figure out exactly how to remove the huge statue of Robert E. Lee from Richmond's Monument Avenue.
State officials say they need some time to plan the removal, since the massive statue of the Confederate general weighs about 12 tons and has been on a 40-foot pedestal for 130 years.
Gov. Ralph Northam ordered the monument's removal amid sustained protests against police brutality. City leaders have committed meanwhile to taking down another four Confederate memorials along Richmond's Monument Avenue.
In some cases, protesters are taking it upon themselves to tear down symbols of white supremacy.