Virginia Governor Calls on State Legislature to Take Down Confederate Monuments

Governor Terry McAuliffe said that Virginia’s legislative body should consider using its legal authority to take down all Confederate monuments.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik), Olesya Manokhina — The US state of Virginia’s legislative body should consider using its legal authority to take down all Confederate monuments in the wake of the violence at the Charlottesville rally, Governor Terry McAuliffe said in a statement.

"I encourage Virginia's localities and the General Assembly — which are vested with the legal authority — to take down these monuments and relocate them to museums or more appropriate settings," McAuliffe said on Wednesday.

The governor explained his call for the removal is rooted in the nature of these monuments, which symbolize a barrier to "progress, inclusion and equality" in the state.

Moreover, McAulifffe stressed the recent incident in the city of Charlottesville proved that Confederate statues fuel anger and hatred.

On Saturday, violent clashes sparked in Virginia over Gen. Robert E. Lee's bronze equestrian monument during "Unite The Right" rally. One person was killed in the car-ramming attack and dozens were injured as the result of the incident.

Robert E. Lee is known as a Confederate general in the American Civil War. After the death of the commander, monuments of Lee were built throughout the Southern states.