MARK WLAZ

Placed on this spot in 1890, the monument is imposing - at 61 feet in height - comprised of a 21 foot tall bronze statue upon a granite pedestal that is itself 4 stories tall. The BLM movement used the Lee Circle as a focal point in the summer of 2020. The grafitti covered monument was designated as the most influential piece of protest art in America since WW II.

Note: To enlarge an image, click on the upper right-hand corner of the photo.

Standing above pink hearts,
below Lee mounted upon a horse,
a young man pauses,
arms outstretched
striking a vulnerable pose,
reminiscent of an evangelist.

As a component of protest art, and as an educational opportunity, the Lee Monument was encircled by dozens of memorials to individuals that have lost their lives at the hands of police throughout the nation.

Photoshoots were common amongst families making pilgrimages to the Lee Monument.

A youth stands at the base of the Lee Monument on June 19, 2020.

The Lee Monument became a living piece of art, passion, and rallying cry.

A young girl reaches for the sky while being carried upon her father’s shoulders.

A young woman lends her voice to the Lee Memorial.

The relative size of the font does not make any message more, or less, worthy than any other. [To view the source of the image’s title - enlarge the photo by clicking on the upper right-hand corner of the image.]

A young girl participates in a Juneteenth candlelight vigil.

Hundreds of protestors marching peacefully along the length of Monument Avenue.

A father hugs his son as they pose for a photo at the base of The Lee Memorial.

A large crane, with its front-end raised off the ground, is strapped to the Stonewall Jackson Monument.

Dwarfed by the bronze statue, men worked for hours to harnass and dislodge the statue of Stonewall Jackson, July 1, 2020.

Seconds later, the crane slowly lifted the statue from its resting place, lightening flashed, followed by a large clap of thunder, and a deluge … while the bells of the First Baptist Church sang along.

On July 1st, the statue of Stonewall Jackson spent much of the day with two ropes lashed around the neck to facilitate its hoisting - but serving a symbolic role as well.

Philonise Floyd [a brother of George Floyd] responds to a question from Richmond’s local NBC TV affiliate. The family came to Richmond to kick-off a nationwide tour in concert with change.org.

The digital 3-D image of George Floyd, which would famously be projected onto the Robert E. Lee Monument on July 28th, is previewed by his brothers and sister the prior evening, near the intersection of Davis and Monument Avenues.

While the city of Richmond acted to have statues removed from Monument Avenue, the Lee Memorial still stands today, caught in legal battles. Unlike the other monuments that stood on City property, the Lee Memorial is on property that had been transferred to the State of Virginia via an 1890 deed - which contains covenants that may impact any decision to remove the statue.