COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS ANSWER NATIONAL CALL TO REMOVE CONFEDERATE MONUMENTS Four arrested at Robert E. Lee Monument during symbolic action against White Supremacy
Today at 7:43 a.m., four community activists were arrested in downtown Asheville while attempting to remove the controversial Robert E. Lee Monument that sits in front of the Vance Monument. Organizers released the following statement to contextualize their action:
“Today marks a week since Heather Heyer was murdered in Charlottesville while resisting white supremacists who came to defend the Robert E. Lee monument. Heather’s death comes after years of black people being slaughtered by the police and white silence in the face of institutionalized violence.
Photo courtesy of protest organizers
“One of the calls to action made by Charlottesville organizers was to remove all confederate monuments. Today, organizers in Asheville made the decision to answer that call by attempting to remove our Robert E. Lee monument.
“We understand that the removal of this monument would be symbolic of removing white supremacy from the very center of our City. We know that this must be connected to the deep work of ending systemic racism and white supremacy culture here.”
Those arrested included Hillary Brown, Rev. Amy Cantrell, Adrienne Sigmon and Nicole Townsend. As of 9 a.m., all four were freed.
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About Max Hunt
Max Hunt grew up in South (New) Jersey and graduated from Warren Wilson College in 2011. History nerd; art geek; connoisseur of swimming holes, hot peppers, and plaid clothing. Follow me @J_MaxHunt
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One thought on “Protest organizers respond to Aug. 18 Robert E. Lee/Dixie Highway monument removal attempt, arrests”
Haha! Snowflakes gonna snowflake…