Virginia

Charlottesville Mayor Seeks Urgent Permission to Remove Robert E. Lee Statue

Mayor Mike Signer's statement comes nearly a week after white supremacists descended on the city for a rally and clashed with counter protesters

Mayor Mike Signer of Charlottesville, Virginia, said in a statement that he wants Gov. Terry McAuliffe to convene an emergency meeting of the General Assembly to greenlight the removal of the Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee monument from a city park. In addition, he also asked for city leaders to figure out ways to memorialize Heather Heyer, the 32-year-old counter-protester who was killed in a car-ramming at Saturday's rally, NBC News reported.

The City Council in February narrowly passed a measure to move the Lee statue — triggering a lawsuit and leading a judge to impose a six-month injunction in May to prevent its relocation while the case winds through the courts.

He said he is also calling for the General Assembly to enact legislation that would allow cities and towns to ban the open or concealed carry of weapons during public events where there is a potential security threat.

Meanwhile, other cities and states are weighing whether to scrub Confederate symbols from public spaces — seen by some as outdated tributes that only reopen the nation's painful past. 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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